Meet Charles Barnard

Business is messy. It’s unpredictable, full of surprises—some pleasant, some not so much. I’m Charles Barnard, and for over three decades, I’ve been the calm in the chaos.Whether it’s guiding a bottler through civil unrest, navigating a plastic manufacturer through organised crime, or helping a business claw its way back from financial freefall during the GFC—I’ve seen it all, and led through it.Now, I work with businesses that need results fast—as an Interim General Manager or COO, focusing on turnarounds, operational leadership, and building teams that take ownership.

Business isn’t just about numbers—it’s about people, systems, and purpose. My leadership approach is grounded in G.N.U. and the principles of Open Book Management to foster trust and transparency:

The  GNU philosophy is grounded in three time proven elements:  

GAIA – Systems Thinking

Everything is connected. The decisions you make in one area ripple through the rest of the business. I focus on the whole system, not just isolated problems.

NACHAS – Team Empowerment

There’s a special joy—nachas—when your team grows, succeeds, and owns the result. I create cultures where people are empowered to drive outcomes, not just follow orders.

UBUNTU – Humanism

“I am because we are.” Leadership only works when the team moves together. Without people, nothing happens. I build businesses that honour and harness the power of collective effort.

I’m a champion of Open Book Management, where transparency drives action. Teams understand the numbers, take ownership, and drive outcomes—not because they’re told to, but because they want to.

Coca-Cola Lebanon

We faced a massive operational and profitability challenge. Through a mix of customer profitability analysis, manufacturing rationalisation, and innovative logistics—including cross-docking to serve remote warehouses—we didn’t just survive; we turned the business around. It was about understanding the real costs, aligning operations, and getting smart with distribution.

Araak Pepsi – Khartoum, Sudan

In a tough environment, we improved quality and productivity to drive both OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) and OOE (Overall Operational Effectiveness). We also cracked the code on distribution into hard-to-reach areas, ensuring consistent product flow despite regional instability.

Petzetakis Africa

Beyond the usual systems and processes, this one had a twist. While streamlining operations, I uncovered a crime syndicate smuggling our products internationally. I worked with law enforcement to dismantle it—and then rebuilt trust and profitability from the ground up.

Mania National – Australia

During the GFC, I bought into this business as a partner. It was bleeding—a -9.5% NP loss. In six months, we turned that into a +1% NP profit. The secret? Focus, cash flow control, and team alignment. No fluff—just results.

Oman – Coca-Cola Toll Bottler

As a toll bottler handling major Coca-Cola contracts, this business needed discipline. I delivered process improvements, leadership development, and contract compliance. We built sustainable systems and leadership capacity that endured.

Growth Through Others

Not every win comes from being in the driver’s seat. As a business coach, I helped one client grow revenue from under $5M to $12.5M over four years—without spending a cent more on marketing. It was all about metrics, accountability, and team ownership.We help you streamline your operations and improve efficiency, so you can focus on what you do best - growing your business.

I step into businesses that need hands-on leadership—whether it’s stabilising operations, restoring profitability, or prepping for growth. As an Interim GM or COO, I don’t just consult—I lead, implement, and deliver.

If your business needs turnaround thinking, real-world leadership, and a culture of ownership, let’s talk.