In Panama’s bustling commercial crossroads, Vittorio De Sanctis has built a security empire that protects everything from banks to airports while simultaneously transforming thousands of lives. As president of Millennium Security, his journey from Italian roots to Central American business leader illustrates how diplomatic heritage, military experience, and Italian innovation can create extraordinary success abroad.
Born in Padua to a Roman family with Umbrian origins, Vittorio’s connection to Panama began through diplomatic ties. “My grandfather was ambassador to Panama,” he explains, revealing how his parents’ decision to relocate in the 1970s set the stage for his future. After university studies in Perugia and valuable experience in the Italian army, Vittorio found his entrepreneurial calling after a business separation from his brother’s fish export company.
“Starting from scratch, with very small capital,” he reflects, his most significant accomplishment came in 1999 when he founded what would grow into a security powerhouse with over 2,500 employees across Panama, Costa Rica, and soon Guatemala. Today, his company boasts an impressive $30 million annual turnover, specialising in everything from personal protection to complex environmental remediation projects.
“The security business is not an aspirational career for most people in the beginning,” Vittorio acknowledges, noting that many employees come from complicated backgrounds. This reality has shaped his unique approach to leadership, where social responsibility stands equal to business objectives. “If you can give the employees a sense of belonging to develop their life by dealing with everyday problems, with a positive approach, school aids, and credit facilitation, you can achieve a great deal. My staff relations department is not only institutional, but also manages complex social relations.”
This philosophy manifests in comprehensive support programs ranging from university scholarships for employees’ children to summer camps and special assistance for families affected by workplace tragedies. Through a foundation where Vittorio serves as a governor, the company addresses approximately ten cases of children with musculoskeletal problems annually, demonstrating how corporate success can fuel meaningful community impact.
His company’s expertise extends beyond traditional security services into specialised environmental work. “Lately, our company has been responsible for reclaiming military exercise areas when the country was used mainly by American troops in the last century,” he explains. This expansion into environmental remediation played a crucial role in Panama’s development: “The expansion of the Panama Canal in 2006 took place in a contaminated area, requiring intensive cleanup on our part before the section in question could be expanded.”
Despite nearly five decades abroad, Vittorio maintains strong connections to his Italian heritage. “I consider myself 50% Panamanian and 50% Italian,” he shares. “The Italian mentality in seeing things differently was fundamental and allowed me to be the leader in my sector.” This distinctive perspective manifests in practical innovations, such as adapting uniforms to reflect staff roles—small details that distinguish his company from competitors.
While his professional roots have grown deep in Panamanian soil, personal ties to Italy remain strong. He visits his homeland three or four times annually, and with his son now pursuing a Master’s degree at Sapienza University in Rome, Vittorio says he’s “trying to mend bridges with my homeland.” Despite the geographical distance, Italian traditions endure in his daily life, particularly “morning coffee, of course! Sunday lunch with the family is the other tradition. I speak Italian to my children, and I follow Roma assiduously.”
Vittorio sees untapped potential in strengthening business relations between his two homelands. “Panama has a lot to offer Italy,” he insists, highlighting a 1967 treaty that offers significant advantages to Italian companies, allowing them to bring specialised employees with fewer restrictions than standard immigration rules would permit. “This treaty could be a great advantage for Italian entrepreneurs, also because Panama is one of the safest countries in Central America, going beyond ordinary prejudices.”
His advice for young Italians contemplating international careers, particularly in Panama, is practical and encouraging: “There are still many opportunities for willing Italians. Panama has been a transit area for 500 years, so its society is accustomed to these multicultural transits.” He emphasises the critical shortage of qualified workers: “There is very little qualified manpower in Panama. If you speak Spanish and even English, the opportunities are excellent. You need to come and learn first of all.”
Looking toward the future, Vittorio sees his company evolving beyond physical security into emerging technological domains. “Panama is a fairly safe country, and we are developing the electronic intelligence sector, especially in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence,” he notes, anticipating how security needs will transform in the coming decades.
When asked about his fantasy dinner party, Vittorio reveals his historical fascination and diplomatic sensibilities: “The three guests would be Napoleon, Trump, and the President of Panama.” The menu reflects his bicultural identity—”a nice spaghetti and a good baked lamb followed by my favourite dessert, tiramisu, or cheesecake for Trump!” He envisions “a long evening with lots of wine” where he might offer “a historical perspective to these contemporary figures thanks to the presence of Napoleon.”
Through his remarkable journey from Padua to Panama, Vittorio De Sanctis exemplifies how Italian creativity, relationship-building skills, and social consciousness can thrive internationally, creating enterprises that generate profit, transform communities and bridge cultures.
Follow us on social media for more stories of Italian excellence abroad.
#ItalianExcellence #ItaliansInPanama #SecurityIndustry #CorporateSocialResponsibility #ItalianDiaspora #PanamaLife #BusinessLeadership #InternationalSecurity #ItalianHeritage #GlobalBusiness #CentralAmerica #SuccessStories #InternationalCareers
