Charles is chairman of the firm’s five-member Executive Committee, where he shares responsibility for driving strategic decisions and monitoring implementation of the firm’s vision and objectives. He is also a member of the Investment Oversight Committee, which monitors the processes and activities of the firm’s investment committees.  Before founding Brandes in 1974, Charles became an acquaintance of Benjamin Graham, widely considered the father of the value investing approach. He has also authored a book on value investing. Charles is on the board of several organizations including the Tanya Brandes and Charles Brandes Foundation. He earned his BA in economics from Bucknell University and has 43 years of investment experience.