Full Name
Melissa Sanchez
Job Title
Senior Vice President, Sanctions Securities
Company
Citi
Speaker Bio
Melissa Sanchez is a distinguished leader in sanctions compliance and financial crimes prevention with extensive experience spanning the financial and legal sectors. Currently serving as Senior Vice President of Sanctions Compliance at Citi, Melissa is at the forefront of designing and implementing global strategies to ensure adherence to complex sanctions regulations. Her role involves overseeing the quality of sanctions control processes, setting global standards, and guiding Citi's businesses on securities transactions, while interacting with regulatory authorities like OFAC and OFSI.
Before joining Citi, Melissa was the Executive Manager and Head of US Financial Crimes and Sanctions at Allen & Overy, where she excelled in developing and refining financial crimes risk management strategies. Her responsibilities included leading enterprise-wide compliance
governance programs, managing regulatory exams, and providing expert guidance on evolving regulatory themes. Her expertise also extended to preparing comprehensive reports and delivering training to clients, demonstrating her commitment to enhancing compliance practices.
Melissa’s career includes significant roles at UBS, where she was a Director in Global Wealth Management, and at Crowe LLP, where she served as Manager of Financial Crimes. Her work at UBS focused on identifying and mitigating AML risks, while her tenure at Crowe involved
advising on advanced AML solutions and internal control improvements across multiple regions. Earlier in her career, Melissa held notable positions at MUFG, Bank of Tokyo, Deloitte, and JP Morgan. At MUFG, she led global sanctions compliance effectiveness reviews and provided support to branches in Latin America. At Deloitte, she was a senior associate specializing in AML investigations and sanctions compliance, working with major global banks and payment processing institutions. Her experience at JP Morgan involved leading investigations and
advising on OFAC sanctions, further showcasing her expertise in the field.
In addition to her professional achievements, Melissa is an Adjunct Professor at St. John’s University, where she imparts knowledge on Business Law and Contract Law to undergraduate students. Her academic role underscores her commitment to educating the next generation of professionals in the legal and compliance sectors. Melissa holds a Juris Doctor from Touro Law School and a Bachelor of Science from St. John’s University, where she also serves on the Board of Trustees. Her extensive background in financial crimes and sanctions compliance, coupled with her academic contributions, make her a highly sought-after expert and speaker in the field.
Before joining Citi, Melissa was the Executive Manager and Head of US Financial Crimes and Sanctions at Allen & Overy, where she excelled in developing and refining financial crimes risk management strategies. Her responsibilities included leading enterprise-wide compliance
governance programs, managing regulatory exams, and providing expert guidance on evolving regulatory themes. Her expertise also extended to preparing comprehensive reports and delivering training to clients, demonstrating her commitment to enhancing compliance practices.
Melissa’s career includes significant roles at UBS, where she was a Director in Global Wealth Management, and at Crowe LLP, where she served as Manager of Financial Crimes. Her work at UBS focused on identifying and mitigating AML risks, while her tenure at Crowe involved
advising on advanced AML solutions and internal control improvements across multiple regions. Earlier in her career, Melissa held notable positions at MUFG, Bank of Tokyo, Deloitte, and JP Morgan. At MUFG, she led global sanctions compliance effectiveness reviews and provided support to branches in Latin America. At Deloitte, she was a senior associate specializing in AML investigations and sanctions compliance, working with major global banks and payment processing institutions. Her experience at JP Morgan involved leading investigations and
advising on OFAC sanctions, further showcasing her expertise in the field.
In addition to her professional achievements, Melissa is an Adjunct Professor at St. John’s University, where she imparts knowledge on Business Law and Contract Law to undergraduate students. Her academic role underscores her commitment to educating the next generation of professionals in the legal and compliance sectors. Melissa holds a Juris Doctor from Touro Law School and a Bachelor of Science from St. John’s University, where she also serves on the Board of Trustees. Her extensive background in financial crimes and sanctions compliance, coupled with her academic contributions, make her a highly sought-after expert and speaker in the field.
