Chris Charlton

Key Consultants

Chris is a highly experienced business leader, board advisor, programme director, management consultant, author and executive coach. He has led the Programme and Change team at a ‘ big 4’ consultancy; has set up and run several practices at a niche business transformation consulting firm and has been the deputy lead for the consulting practice of a major IT firm. His recent focus has been on defining and driving major business and IT change programmes.

Sector and Service Expertise

Chris brings to Skarbek his client experience in 7 industry sectors, including FMCG, Financial Services, Aviation, Telecoms, Pharma, Postal and Energy. He is a recognised expert in the fields of change, project and programme management, with all requisite professional qualifications (MSP, MAPM, PMI, Prince2.). He is also a qualified management accountant (CIMA), with strong financial management skills. Chris is a Cambridge University graduate, has authored a book on the business impact of the Euro, and is a regular commentator on change and project management, including in the Financial Times.

Strengths and Career Achievements

Chris has over 20 years’ experience of leading business and IT programmes ranging in scale from £10m to over £1bn. These have included new strategy development and execution; business-critical transformations and restructuring; new product development and launch; merger & acquisition integrations, and major IT systems implementations. Chris is also skilled in building organisational Project and Programme Management capabilities. He has significant senior stakeholder management experience, having been a Board member of an airline, an FMCG company and a European bank. He has also acted as strategic and transformation advisor to over 20 boards in both the private and public sectors and has chaired multiple major business and IT programme Boards.

Some of his recent projects include: creating a comprehensive IT Strategy for a world leading Research Institute; co-leading the acquisition integration of a major UK airline by the national flag carrier; leading the transformation of a £1.5bn UK & Ireland consumer business; building a portfolio management capability for a £5bn European Pharmaceuticals business; leading and turning around a complex IT transformation programme at a major Logistics & Postal Group; and defining and leading a transformation programme for a major Telecoms firm.