Luis Carlos Ávila Chávez named interim head of Ecuador's National Intelligence Center

Luis Carlos Ávila Chávez has been appointed as the interim Director of Ecuador's National Intelligence Center (CNI). His designation follows the tragic death of Michele Sensi Contugi, who perished in a plane accident in Kenya on August 19, 2026.

Ávila Chávez brings a decade of experience in public service to his new role. His career began in 2015 as a Zonal Supervisor for the Municipality of Guayaquil, where he later served as Chief of Delegates until 2023. He then moved to the Technical Secretariat of the Committee for the Prevention of Irregular Human Settlements as Technical Director of Institutional Management.

In 2024, Ávila Chávez held several key positions, including advisor and office coordinator at the National Intelligence Center. He also served as Undersecretary of Governance and General Police Chief 1 within the Ministry of Government. His career continued with roles at Petroecuador in 2025, where he was Head of Physical Security and Transport Manager.

Prior to his current appointment, Ávila Chávez held multiple positions within the National Intelligence Center, including Technical Deputy Director, Deputy Director of Strategic Intelligence, and Deputy Director General. His extensive background within the intelligence apparatus positions him to lead the CNI during this transitional period.