Bernard Charlès was appointed President of Dassault Systèmes on September 1, 1995. He was named President and CEO on May 28, 2002.

Mr. Charlès started his career at DS in 1983, leading teams to develop new technologies. In 1986, he founded a dedicated Strategy and Research department, and in 1988 was named President of Research and Development. Under his leadership, Dassault Systèmes launched the CATIA-CADAM V4, introducing an innovative architecture as well as a new momentum to meet customers’ needs.

Since becoming President, Mr. Charlès has driven the key steps in DS's evolution including the development of the Version 5 architecture and the introduction of the V6 online collaborative platform; the development of a PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) portfolio with new brands such as DELMIA, ENOVIA and SIMULIA, reinforcing CATIA solutions; and a broader access to 3D (“3D for All”), with the acquisition of SolidWorks and the launch of the 3DVIA brand. Dassault Systèmes has become the world leading supplier of PLM solutions. 

The solutions and services developed by Dassault Systèmes today give shape to Mr. Charlès' vision of leveraging the power of 3D to help companies from all industries develop, simulate, and optimize the complete lifecycle of their products, in order to help preserve the environment, to innovate and gain competitiveness. The Dassault Systèmes solutions also address Research and Education.

In 2007, Bernard Charlès received the insignia of the Chevalier de la légion d'honneur and was appointed member of the Académie des Technologies in 2009.

He graduated with honors as a mechanical engineer specialized in automation and computer science engineering from the prestigious Ecole Normale Supérieure in Cachan, France where he still belongs to the scientific core of professors.