Panama, February 25, 2026. The American Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Panama (AmCham Panamá) held the inauguration of its new president, Mariela de la Guardia Oteiza, together with the Board of Directors that will lead the organization during the 2026 term. The ceremony took place at the Hotel Hyatt Regency Panamá City, with the participation of Chamber members, representatives of the public and private sectors, the diplomatic corps, strategic allies and the media.
The program included remarks by national authorities and representatives of the Embassy of the United States in Panama, highlighting AmCham’s relevance as a key platform for strengthening trade relations, investment and bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Attendees heard remarks from Luis Laguerre, AmCham President 2012; H.E. Kevin Marino Cabrera, Ambassador of the United States to Panama; and H.E. Astrid Ábrego, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade of the Republic of Panama.
During the ceremony, the outgoing president, Niurka Montero, highlighted the impact of her term in office and the importance of institutional continuity:
Today concludes an extraordinary year as president of AmCham Panamá, an experience that allowed me to contribute actively to strengthening our business community and to the development of the country. It is a source of great satisfaction to welcome Mariela de la Guardia Oteiza, an exceptional professional whose vision and leadership will continue to drive the growth and relevance of our Chamber.
For more details on these achievements, see here.
For her part, the new president reaffirmed AmCham Panamá’s strategic role as a bridge between the two countries and as a platform for sustainable economic development:
I take on this responsibility convinced that from this position we can continue to advance initiatives that contribute to a more prosperous and competitive Panama.
In that context, de la Guardia announced that her term will focus on three fundamental strategic pillars: strengthening trade relations and bilateral cooperation between Panama and the United States, advancing sustainable economic growth through the promotion of investment, business ethics and environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria, and generating greater value for member companies through access to knowledge, forums for dialogue and development opportunities.
The incoming president thanked the outgoing Board of Directors for its leadership and reaffirmed her commitment to continue strengthening AmCham Panamá’s standing as one of the most influential business organizations in the country and the region, promoting an environment conducive to investment, innovation and competitiveness.
The Board of Directors that will serve alongside Mariela de la Guardia Oteiza during the 2026 term is made up of leading business figures committed to economic development and to strengthening bilateral relations between Panama and the United States. They are: as Vice President, Malcolm Muñoz, Citibank, N.A. Panama Branch; as Treasurer, Julio Díaz Cohen, AES Panamá; as Secretary, Eyda Varela, INCAE Business School; as Directors, Paula Alzate, Cedeño & Méndez ; Juan Carlos Arias, Corporación Continental; Juan Antonio Boyd, Veló Legal; Jonathan Díaz, Ciudad del Saber; Alyssa Lince, Arden & Price; Patricia Planells, Banco Lafise; Sandra Miró, DHL Express Panamá and Niurka Montero, Dell Technologies Panama and Past President. As ex officio directors: Luis Laguerre, former AACCLA Chair 2021-2022 and Managing Partner of KPMG in Panama; Thomas Kenna, former AACCLA Chair 2016-2017 and President and General Manager of Panama Canal Railway Company; Timothy Cannon, Commercial Counselor of the Embassy of the United States in Panama. As advisors: Dacil Acevedo, Partner, Strategy & Sustainability at Sinergia; Miguel Bolinaga, President of AES Panama; Jean Pierre De Roux, Commercial Director, Tropical Energies Corporation and VP of AACCLA.; Doriana Hun, General Manager of Compañía Chevron and Jorge Barnett, Director of Georgia Tech Panama.
Event gallery
About the Incoming President:
Mariela de la Guardia Oteiza has been a partner attorney at Icaza González Ruiz y Alemán since 2009. She specializes in Corporate Law, Intellectual Property and Data Protection, among other areas. She has advised numerous foreign companies on their establishment in the country, as well as several multinationals under the SEM regime. She has also taken part in various mergers and acquisitions of local and foreign companies, and has participated in the debate and drafting of several bills.
She serves on the Board of Directors of Verdes & Co., a company dedicated to the development of hydroponic crops, and is a director of Icaza Trust Corporation and of Fundación IGRA. She is a member of AmCham, the Asociación Panameña de la Propiedad Intelectual (APADEPI), the International Trademark Association (INTA), the Asociación Interamericana de la Propiedad Intelectual (ASIPI), the Asociación Directoras de Panamá, WIP Panamá, the Colegio Nacional de Abogados and CICYP.
Mariela was Chair of AmCham’s Legislation and Tax Committee in 2017 and 2018, has been a member of AmCham’s Board of Directors since 2019, serving as vice president in 2020 and as secretary for the 2021-2022 and 2024-2025 terms.
