Charles joined the Institute in October 2002. He is responsible for leading the development of practical tools, products and services for reward and HR professionals that support business goals and the need to recruit, retain and engage employees. He is responsible for managing the CIPD’s annual Reward Management Survey, which highlights developments in practice for practitioners, consultants and public policy makers. Charles recently led: research into the underlying links between reward and recognition and delivering excellent customer service (with the Institute of Customer Service); the creation of a good practice guide on communicating pensions; and the production of a briefing on employee share plans and reward and diversity. He is currently leading a study on how employers can help improve their employees’ understanding of their personal finances and research into how front line managers make and communicate reward decisions to their employees. Charles frequently appears in the media commentating on reward and is often invited to present on his research at reward conferences and events. Charles previously worked at IRS Employment Review as a specialist researcher and writer identifying and monitoring reward initiatives and developments for subscribers. Prior to that he worked as a senior reward and employment analyst for the Employers' Organisation for local government. Charles has a degree in economics and economic and social history from Aberystwyth University and a masters in HR from the London School of Economics. He is a chartered Fellow of the CIPD.