Charles Van Commenee is the former Head Coach of UK Athletics and one of the most respected coaches in the world. Dubbed the ‘‘Volcano’’, the disciplinarian Dutchman was fundamental in the development of Olympic stars Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis as well as the strategy that led to ‘Super Saturday’... Read more
Charles Van Commenee is the former Head Coach of UK Athletics and one of the most respected coaches in the world. Dubbed the ‘‘Volcano’’, the disciplinarian Dutchman was fundamental in the development of Olympic stars Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis as well as the strategy that led to ‘Super Saturday’ at London 2012.
Charles’ early career saw him working with some of the country’s leading athletes including Denise Lewis in 1994. Under Charles’ guidance , Denise won Gold at both the Commonwealth Games and European Championships in 1998 before claiming a Silver medal at the 1999 World Championships. At the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games Denise took Gold to become Olympic Champion. She put much of her success and ‘drive to win’ down to the fact that Charles had been so meticulous in the detail, planning and preparation required to perform at the highest level.
Prior to his role as Head Coach of UK Athletics, Charles occupied the role of Performance Director with the Netherlands Olympic Committee .At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Charles led the Netherlands to their second-highest ever Olympic medal tally.
Charles returned to the UK to take up the position of Performance Director in January 2009 and is seen as the catalyst for Great Britain’s most successful period in the history of the sport.
Since leaving his post with UK Athletics in December 2012, Charles has been in high demand amongst global brands and corporate businesses. Charles draws on the precise methods he has implemented whilst working within elite sport and that are required for a team to perform at the very highest level. One of the world’s leading experts on Performance Management, the cornerstone to Charles’ approach is accountability. Perfect for senior leadership populations, his 5 step model to effective coaching performance offers delegates simple strategies and ideas that can be easily implemented in the corporate arena.
A challenging and direct speaker, Charles addresses some of the most important issues facing business today
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You can book Charles Van Commenee through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Charles's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Charles Van Commenee's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Charles tailored to your event.
Charles Van Commenee speaks on a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Charles to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Charles Van Commenee for events worldwide, subject to Charles's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Charles Van Commenee is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Charles can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Charles Van Commenee on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Charles can offer.
Charles Van Commenee delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Charles Van Commenee's areas of expertise include a range of business, leadership and industry subjects. To get a clear sense of Charles's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Charles Van Commenee can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in a range of business, leadership and industry subjects is relevant. Details of Charles's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Charles Van Commenee is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Charles Van Commenee, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Charles's current availability for your dates.