Charles is the UK’s expert on assessment and development centres (and author of Development and assessment centres, 4th edition, 2007). He has also written books and articles on talent management (Winning the talent war, Wiley 1999) and leadership. He has consulted to a wide range of organisations including many household names in the private sector (e.g., RBS, HSBC, Ernst and Young, Shell, and Exxon-Mobil) and the public sector (e.g., The Cabinet Office, Department for Constitutional Affairs, The Security Service, Department for Transport and The BBC).

His consultancy activity covers the range of talent management and his particular current interests include developing the indicators of excellence concept, talent management strategy, executive assessment and coaching and applying the psychology of emotion to the workplace.

Charles is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and an Affiliate of the American Psychological Association.