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Charles van Commenée is a renowned Dutch athletics coach and high-performance speaker, celebrated for his exceptional ability to inspire individuals and teams to achieve excellence. As a speaker, Charles draws on decades of experience in elite sport, offering audiences actionable insights into leadership, accountability, and cultivating a winning mindset. His candid and no-nonsense approach has resonated with organisations worldwide, making him a sought-after authority on performance management.
Charles began his career coaching children while studying physical education, which laid the foundation for his coaching philosophy. His career took a significant leap in 1987 when he became the coach of the Dutch javelin team. In the 1990s, he expanded his influence internationally, coaching Chinese shot putter Huang Zhihong to a silver medal at the 1995 World Championships. His trajectory soared when he began working with British heptathlete Denise Lewis, guiding her to Olympic gold in Sydney 2000, as well as several European and Commonwealth titles. This success cemented Charles as a coach capable of delivering results on the global stage.
In recent years, Charles has made remarkable contributions to both sport and business. As the Head Coach of British Athletics leading up to the London 2012 Olympics, he oversaw the team’s extraordinary success, including the iconic ‘Super Saturday,’ where Team GB won three athletics gold medals in 45 minutes. His tenure as Performance Director for the Dutch Olympic Committee also stands out, with the Netherlands achieving their second-best medal tally at the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Beyond athletics, Charles has worked with major corporations, including Shell and Cap Gemini, sharing strategies for fostering high-performance cultures.
Charles is hired not only for his proven track record in achieving excellence but also for his ability to translate the principles of elite sports into practical lessons for business and organisational success. His ‘5 Steps Approach’ to performance management provides a structured framework for leaders aiming to improve accountability, drive results, and build cohesive, high-performing teams. With his engaging and impactful presentations, Charles inspires audiences to embrace challenges and push beyond perceived limits.
Charles Van Commenée is regularly booked to engage audiences at events, read their latest feedback below:
“Charles delivered a one-hour presentation on Leadership and Coaching at our annual conference. His messages and core themes were perfectly aligned to what we expect from our leaders and his coaching philosophy was one that we can all learn from and apply. His no-compromise approach to accountability will ring true to any organisation that is serious about performance.”
“The leadership skills and techniques Charles imparted were quite fascinating and triggered much discussion later that evening which was just the outcome we wanted. It was a most engaging and memorable hour which suited our conference and was a perfect finale.”
The High-Performance Speakers Agency is the UK’s leading bureau for teamwork, leadership, and marginal gains speakers. We hire speakers for corporate conferences and events across the world and cater to both in-person occasions and online webinars. Our roster includes sportspeople, business leaders, adventurers and more, to ensure audiences of all industries receive tailored, impactful advice on optimised performance.
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