The Director of the AISE - Agenzia informazioni e sicurezza esterna [External Intelligence and Security Agency] is appointed by the President of the Council of Ministers, after prior consultation with the CISR Interministerial Committee.

The Director’s term of office is four years, renewable once only.

The Director of the AISE:

• is in charge of the Agency’s organization and operation
• is a member of the Steering Committee and the Board of Directors
• reports constantly about the Agency's activities to the President of the Council of Ministers or the Delegated Authority through the Director of the DIS. In urgent cases or when other particular circumstances so require, he reports directly to the President of the Council of Ministers
• submits an annual report on the Agency's operation and organization to the CISR, through the Director General of the DIS
• authorizes the recourse to functional guarantees in urgent cases