Staff

 Ian Bolton is the Founder and CEO of Sanctions SOS. It was his dream to create a sanctions consultancy that brings together sanctions expertise from across governments, industry and academia.

Ian was the Editor of FISC (Financial Institutions Sanctions Compliance) Journal, which was published by WorldECR. FISC provided sanctions knowledge and expertise for the financial sector, customers and advisors. 

Prior to this Ian worked at HSBC-UK as a Sanctions Senior Manager, leading on regulatory reporting and advisory work for the retail bank. Before joining HSBC-UK, Ian was a British Diplomat for 11 years. As well as serving overseas, Ian focussed extensively on Counter-Proliferation policy, including the enforcement of sanctions and interdictions, and helped write the UK’s keynote sanctions legislation, the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act (2018). 

Ian worked for King’s College London on strategic export controls and Counter-Proliferation sanctions, is a Visiting Sanctions Research Fellow at King’s, and a sanctions Panel Member and trainer for the International Compliance Association. 

Mathilde Gerritsma is an Associate in Outreach and Policy at Sanctions SOS, where she blends her strategic business insights with a deep passion for international relations to help organisations navigate sanctions risks and drive impactful sanctions practices worldwide.

With a BA in Chinese Studies and a minor in Russian Studies from the University of Manchester, Mathilde has developed a keen understanding of global policy and geopolitics, particularly in China, Russia, and the DPRK. Her expertise is further complemented by specialised training in sanctions and counter-terrorism, enabling her to make significant contributions to the development of sanctions compliance frameworks, risk analysis, and thought leadership in the field.

Mathilde’s professional background in business development and partnerships further enhances her ability to forge long-term, trust-based relationships across industries in both the private and public sectors. Fluent in English, Mandarin (HSK6), and Dutch, with proficiency in French, German, and Russian, she leverages her multilingual skills to engage effectively with global stakeholders, fostering cross-cultural understanding and collaboration.

In her current role, Mathilde leads business development, marketing, and compliance efforts, with a focus on counter-terrorism (CT), counter-proliferation (CP), and the roles of Russia and China in sanctions. She also co-leads the team’s Myanmar initiatives.