Ilya Espino de Marotta to Become First Woman to Lead Panama Canal
PANAMA, September 6, 2026 — Engineer Ilya Espino de Marotta will take over as administrator of the Panama Canal on Monday, September 7, becoming the first woman to lead the authority.
Espino de Marotta has been deputy administrator since January 2020 and began her Canal career in 1985. Her seven-year term follows that of outgoing administrator Ricaurte Vasquez. She has also named Ruben Perez Pinzon as acting deputy administrator.
The source report was published on September 6, 2026. Panama Now Online will follow official updates as the story develops.
