## Charlie Pennington

Charlie Pennington is a leading expert in guiding startup founders through growth and scalability challenges. As the head of Carta’s go-to-market and sales efforts for equity management and fundraising in AMEA, he has expanded Carta’s reach across the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa.

### Latest from Charlie Pennington

**APAC & MENA**  
**June 2026**  
**How to leverage ZEPOs as part of your ESS**  
Everything you need to know about zero exercise price options, including how ZEPOs work, tax benefits, and how you can leverage it as part of your ESS.  
[View](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/learn/startups/equity-management/ess/zepo/)

**APAC & MENA**  
**May 2026**  
**Launching an employee share scheme in Australia**  
This guide explains how to launch and manage an employee share scheme for Australian startups, covering the strategic benefits, key regulations, and practical steps to turn your team into owners.  
[View](https://fund-forecasting@carta.com/learn/startups/equity-management/ess/)