Charles graduated with an honours degree in Anthropology from Durham University in 1976. He spent four years in industry before joining Merrill Lynch in 1980 as a private client broker in London. He joined Dean Witter Reynolds in 1984 and Drexel Burnham Lambert in 1987 as a Senior Vice President, where in both cases he was their top institutional broker in the UK, joining the high yield bond department in 1989. In 1990, Charles joined MMG Patricof (now Apax Partners) as a Director of investment banking working with UK smaller companies.

In August 1991, he founded Montanaro to specialise in analysing and investing in European smaller companies on behalf of leading institutions. He has since launched several funds now totalling over €1 billion and established a strong track record.  In addition, he has served on the Boards of two public smaller companies.