Director, Sanctions – Europe and EEMEMA

About the role

The Director, Sanctions – Europe and EEMEMA leads Mastercard’s sanctions compliance strategy across EU markets, focusing on digital assets and emerging payment ecosystems. This senior leadership position ensures that fiat and crypto payment flows meet Mastercard’s standards and regulatory expectations.

Key responsibilities

• Lead EU‑focused economic sanctions compliance (EU, UK, UN) for digital asset and fiat payment ecosystems.
• Design, implement, and continuously improve compliance risk control frameworks covering financial crimes, transaction screening, and asset freezing.
• Provide senior‑level advisory on sanctions risks affecting crypto exchanges, wallet providers, on/off‑ramp solutions, and tokenized payment models.
• Oversee governance and controls for regulatory change management and the implementation of new global trade restrictions.
• Ensure readiness for regulatory exams, audits, and supervisory reviews through robust documentation, control testing, and issue management.
• Partner with product, technology, and business leaders to embed “Compliance by Design” into digital currency initiatives.
• Offer SME guidance on EU‑specific sanctions developments influencing executive decision‑making.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in EU sanctions compliance, trade controls, financial crimes management, or related legal/audit functions within global banking or payments.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams and influence senior stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of crypto‑related regulatory environments and emerging payment technologies.

Required skills

• In‑depth knowledge of EU, UK, and UN sanctions regimes.
• Expertise in financial‑crime risk assessment and mitigation.
• Experience with transaction screening, asset freezing, and compliance documentation.