Director sanctions match: what the check means

What this test checks

Compares each current and former director of the company with the individuals designated on the UK Sanctions List, by name and, where both records hold it, by date of birth.

The company itself may not be designated, but a designated person on its board is a serious legal and reputational concern, and can mean the company is controlled by that person for sanctions purposes.

What a fail looks like

A director's name, and where available date of birth, matches a designated individual. A match on a current director is far more serious than one on a director who left years ago.

Harmless explanations

• Names alone produce false matches: two people can share a name, and the register only shows a director's month and year of birth.
• A match on a former director who left before the designation may have no bearing on the company today.

What to do

• Check the designation details (full name, aliases, date of birth, nationality) against the director's record.
• Pause payments and new commitments until the match is resolved.
• If confirmed, take legal advice on whether the company is owned or controlled by a designated person.

Background: Sanctions screening.

Related tests

• COM-030Company Direct Sanctions Match
• COM-032PSC Individual Sanctions Match
• GOV-070Disqualified Director/Officer Match Detected

Part of the test catalogue. Every check Senserity runs, with its severity and the plan it is available on.

Last reviewed 3 October 2026.