The Panama Canal Authority has announced the appointment of deputy administrator Ilya Espino de Marotta as administrator for the 2026–2033 term. The first woman to lead the international waterway, the 64-year-old Panamanian marine engineer will replace the current administrator, Ricaurte Vásquez, on October 1, 2026.
The decision followed a national and international process of searching for, consulting with, and evaluating the profiles of Panamanian professionals, in line with the present and future challenges facing the Canal.
“The legitimacy of this decision is underpinned by the independence of the process, the technical rigour of the method applied, and serious, objective institutional deliberation guided by the best interests of the Canal and the country,” said Jose Ramon Icaza, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Authority.
Ilya Espino de Marotta began her career with the Panama Canal in 1985. She has, thus, over 40 years’ experience working at the waterway in technical, operational and leadership roles, and was appointed in 2019 Deputy Administrator and subsequently Sustainability Officer. She also previously served as vice president for transit business and executive vice president for engineering during the Panama Canal Expansion Program.
“I thank the Board of Directors for this vote of confidence and for granting me the privilege of continuing to contribute to my country. I pledge to continue doing my utmost for our country, supporting our clients and ensuring the strategic planning we have in place so that Panama continues to grow. I extend my deepest gratitude to my family for these 40 years of service, and I will continue to dedicate myself fully to the Panama Canal workforce,” said Ms. Marotta.
(Photos from Panama Canal Authority)