BRG announced the expansion of its Financial Institution Advisory practice with the additions of Managing Director Samantha Welch and Directors Gene Bolton and Kristin Wenske in New York. With extensive expertise in anti-money laundering (AML), counterterrorism finance, fraud and corruption, the trio will take a lead role in heading BRG's financial crime capabilities.
 
"As geopolitical tensions intensify and cybercriminals increasingly adopt artificial intelligence–powered tools, we expect financial crime to grow substantially over the next decade—and the penalties imposed on businesses for not mitigating these risks will grow in kind," said Paul Noring, leader of BRG's Financial Institution Advisory practice. "Samantha, Gene and Kristin bring unparalleled industry and regulatory expertise to help our clients navigate these challenges. Their leadership will be instrumental in delivering innovative, high-impact solutions in this critical area."
 
Welch combines in-house experience at leading global financial institutions with a strong consulting background to help clients manage complex regulatory challenges. She has advised banks, broker-dealers, payment providers, digital asset companies, investment advisers and private equity firms in areas such as AML, sanctions and reputational risk.
 
"In today's rapidly evolving regulatory environment, financial institutions—and increasingly those in other industries—face mounting challenges in managing compliance and financial crimes risk," said Tri MacDonald, principal executive officer and president of BRG. "Samantha, Gene and Kristin strengthen our ability to guide clients through these complex waters. We're thrilled to welcome them to the team."
 
Bolton has a wealth of experience in financial crime compliance, focusing on AML, combating financial terrorism and ensuring sanctions compliance. He has helped clients address regulatory matters involving government agencies such as the Department of Justice and Federal Reserve. His background in evaluating and strengthening compliance programs enables him to provide critical support to financial institutions and digital asset companies facing today's ever-changing regulatory landscape.
 
Wenske brings over 15 years of experience with the Bank Secrecy Act, AML and sanctions compliance, specializing in program remediation and financial crime risk management. She has worked with financial institutions, fintechs and digital asset firms to implement operating models that maximize efficiency. Her operational expertise leading large-scale transaction monitoring units and collaborating with senior leadership at major organizations ensures her recommendations are both practical and impactful for clients.
 
"BRG has an outstanding reputation for delivering exceptional client outcomes," said Welch. "Gene, Kristin and I are excited to join the firm and take our work guiding clients through financial crime risk mitigation and compliance to the next level."  
 
Welch earned her MBA from New York University and BA from Rollins College. Bolton earned his MA and BA from Seton Hall University. Wenske earned her BA from the University of Dayton.