The Government of Argentina announced the departure of Sergio Neiffert from the Secretariat of State Intelligence (SIDE) and appointed Cristian Auguadra in his place, a low-profile public accountant with experience in auditing and strong connections to presidential advisor Santiago Caputo. The previous phase, under Neiffert's leadership, is said to have focused on 'organizing internal matters, auditing, and making the structure transparent.' With Auguadra, the goal is 'to deepen technical and operational modernization, consolidate control and strategic planning mechanisms, and move towards an agile, integrated, and modern intelligence model.' Thus, Auguadra becomes the new 'Mr. Five' of espionage. Profile and Key Connections: Previous Position: Before his appointment, Auguadra headed the Division of Internal Affairs (DAI), where he had taken office in November 2024 with the direct approval of Santiago Caputo. Political Link: He is considered a man of extreme trust for the Caputo family, specifically Claudio Caputo, the father of the presidential advisor. Public Career: His administrative experience is not recent: in the early 2000s, Mauricio Macri had proposed him to join the board of the Banco Ciudad. Expertise: The government presents him as a public official with experience in auditing, risk management, institutional strengthening, and public administration. The 'Second Stage' of SIDE: Auguadra's appointment marks the beginning of the 'second stage' in the reorganization of SIDE.
