The Portrait

From army officer to deputy director of the Dis: who is Giuseppe Del Deo, the former 007 investigated for embezzlement

The man is under investigation for embezzlement in the investigation by the Rome Public Prosecutor's Office, coordinated by Stefano Pesci, which also concerns the Flower Squad and which has triggered a series of searches by the Ros

by Letizia Giostra

20 April 2026

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Beginnings as an army officer and first steps in Italian intelligence
His role in Aisi
Appointment as deputy director of the Dis and farewell to the secret service

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

There is also the name of Giuseppe Del Deo, the former number two at the Dis, among the suspects in the investigation into the 'Fiore Squad', a clandestine group - which included former members of the police force - that allegedly carried out dossier activities. The investigators are prosecuting for the crimes of abusive access to a computer system, violations of privacy and abusive exercise of a profession. The charge for Del Deo, however, is embezzlement of five million euro. Money that, according to the prosecutors, the former Dis would have entrusted to the company Sind, managed at the time by Enrico Fincati, who is also under investigation.

The beginnings as an army officer and the first steps in Italian intelligence

Born in 1973 in Naples, Del Deo began his professional career taking his first steps as an army officer. Only ten years later, the former 007 joined the Italian secret service, where he worked for over 30 years.

A name that might not suggest anything at first, but which appears among the most renowned positions in Italian intelligence. Information - especially economic and financial information - has always been in the hands of Giuseppe Del Deo.

He was entrusted with assignments that took him to the top echelons of the secret services from a very young age and then to the helm of the Internal Intelligence and Security Agency (AISI).

His role in Aisi

Del Deo went on to become head of the economic-financial department of Aisi, a sector that has gradually acquired centrality in the perimeter of intelligence operations: the defence of the national interest also and above all passes through the protection of the most precious assets of the Country.

His achievements finally led him to be appointed Deputy Director of Aisi in July 2023, a position he held well ahead of the average of his predecessors.

In 2024 he is among the favourites to succeed Mario Parente, who is due to expire after eight years in the Aisi number 1 chair. But the choice in April 2024 fell on Bruno Valensise. A few months of cohabitation between the two, then Del Deo was moved to the vice-directorate of the Department of Security Intelligence (Dis).

Appointment as deputy director of the Dis and farewell to the secret services

It was on 8 August 2024 when, with a Dpcm signed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Giuseppe Del Deo was appointed Deputy Director of the Dis, leaving the post of Deputy Director of Aisi after only a year.

But there are two obstacles in the ex-official's career: the first, when Aisi agents - the fact was later denied - were allegedly caught around the car of Andrea Giambruno, the premier's former companion, on the night between 30 November and 1 December 2023; the second concerns the checks carried out, again by Aisi, on Meloni's chief of staff, Gaetano Caputi.

Two cases that in April 2025 led to the manager leaving the service after a 30-year career, at the age of just 51, taking leave with the words: 'I am leaving my offices with the sole intention of gaining new professional experience'.

But after three days came the appointment as executive chairman of Cerved, a company active in credit risk assessment and business data analysis, which let it know through a note that it was not involved in the investigation.