Pankaj Upadhyay

Background

About Pankaj Upadhyay

I’m a globally experienced Trade Compliance and Customs Leader with 15+ years of success managing complex, high-impact cross-border operations, regulatory compliance, and customs brokerage for multi-market supply chains. My core strength lies in transforming trade compliance into a business enabler, driving operational excellence, mitigating risk, and supporting strategic expansion. I’ve led customs programs handling ~$105M in annual import value and played pivotal role in launching ~350 projects, from fulfillment centers to regional offices, representing a total capital spend of $1B+. My domain expertise spans HTS/HSN classification, free trade agreements (FTAs), duty and tax optimization, GST regimes, and global customs brokerage. I’ve partnered with regulators and trade bodies to streamline clearances, enhance audit outcomes, and reduce compliance errors by up to 85%, delivering over $10M in annual savings. In today’s dynamic geopolitical shifts and rising enforcement environment, I’m fully equipped to manage export controls, dual-use goods, SCOMET classifications, and global sanctions compliance, including licensing frameworks, restricted party screenings, and Comprehensive risk assessments. I ensure businesses remain agile, compliant, and resilient in high-risk regions. Beyond traditional compliance, I also bring strong tech fluency, leveraging digital tools, automation platforms and trade compliance systems solutions for HTS classification and audit readiness. I believe in building scalable, future-ready compliance ecosystems that blend governance with innovation. As a full-spectrum compliance strategist and operational leader, I offer the unique ability to connect the dots between business goals, regulatory demands, and digital transformation, taking organizations to the next level of trade compliance maturity. Open to global executive opportunities in trade compliance, export controls, and strategic customs governance.