Charles joined BBH being one of their first graduate recruits. After four years he decided to take a sabbatical and travel in Asia.

Loving the region, he stayed on and became Group Planning Head for Bates Asia, working on accounts including HongkongBank, Lane Crawford and Thorn Emi. Two years later he moved to Sydney with the Bates network, before joining Principals, the creative and strategic brand consultancy, as a partner and director.

He rejoined BBH, as Strategic Planning Director in April 2001, and was appointed Chairman of the Singapore office in June 2005 and Chairman BBH Asia in January 2008.