Nicola Salmoria
From MAMEDEV Wiki
Nicola Salmoria is the original developer of MAME. He was also the first project coordinator - from the beginning of the MAME project on February 5, 1997 until May 15, 2003, when David Haywood took over the leading role. Nicola handed over his duties for a short period of time in 1997, during which time Mirko Buffoni coordinated the project.
Nicola's MAME blog is located at http://mamelife.blogspot.com/.
Nicola also keeps a non-MAME-related puzzle video game enthusiast blog at http://nontrivialgames.blogspot.com/.