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Empire Safe & Vault Promotes Juan Morales to CEO
As part of the transition, Joseph Nicosia has stepped into the role of COO.
Empire Safe & Vault, a New York-based burglary protection company, has announced Juan Morales, left, as CEO and Joseph Nicosia as chief operating officer.
New York—Empire Safe & Vault has announced a leadership transition that became effective in late August.
Juan Morales was promoted to CEO, and Joseph Nicosia to chief operating officer.
The appointments mark the company's next phase of leadership, Empire said.
Morales brings experience in business leadership, physical security, investigations, operations, and organizational development to the role.
As CEO, he will focus on strengthening the company’s operations, developing its workforce, expanding its service and security capabilities, and growing strategic partnerships.
He joined Empire in 2024 as a safe and vault security technician and most recently served as COO, according to his LinkedIn profile.
In his time with the company, he has worked directly with safes, vaults, service operations, customers, technicians, and logistics.
Earlier in his career, Morales served in the United States Marine Corps in leadership and instructional roles and later served with the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
He holds a degree in business management with a concentration in organizational psychology and is continuing graduate studies in security management.
“Empire has been protecting people, businesses, and institutions since 1904. That history carries weight. My responsibility is not simply to preserve what has been built, but to strengthen it by developing our people, improving how we operate, expanding our technical and security capabilities, and positioning Empire for its next generation of growth,” said Morales.
Richard Krasilovsky, president of Empire Safe & Vault, said he trusts Morales to lead the company into its next chapter.
“He has learned this business from the inside, understands how our work gets done, and brings the experience to strengthen our team and serve our customers. I’m confident he will build on Empire’s legacy while preparing the company for what comes next,” said Krasilovsky.
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Juan Morales was promoted to CEO, and Joseph Nicosia to chief operating officer.
The appointments mark the company's next phase of leadership, Empire said.
Morales brings experience in business leadership, physical security, investigations, operations, and organizational development to the role.
As CEO, he will focus on strengthening the company’s operations, developing its workforce, expanding its service and security capabilities, and growing strategic partnerships.
He joined Empire in 2024 as a safe and vault security technician and most recently served as COO, according to his LinkedIn profile.
In his time with the company, he has worked directly with safes, vaults, service operations, customers, technicians, and logistics.
Earlier in his career, Morales served in the United States Marine Corps in leadership and instructional roles and later served with the New York City Police Department (NYPD).
He holds a degree in business management with a concentration in organizational psychology and is continuing graduate studies in security management.
“Empire has been protecting people, businesses, and institutions since 1904. That history carries weight. My responsibility is not simply to preserve what has been built, but to strengthen it by developing our people, improving how we operate, expanding our technical and security capabilities, and positioning Empire for its next generation of growth,” said Morales.
Richard Krasilovsky, president of Empire Safe & Vault, said he trusts Morales to lead the company into its next chapter.
“He has learned this business from the inside, understands how our work gets done, and brings the experience to strengthen our team and serve our customers. I’m confident he will build on Empire’s legacy while preparing the company for what comes next,” said Krasilovsky.
Nicosia has stepped into the role of COO.
He will oversee order fulfillment, build-to-spec production, delivery, installation, and service across the company’s Manhattan showroom and Bronx warehouse.
Nicosia joined Empire in March 2025 as a security consultant.
He later became service manager while continuing to support sales and operations, before being promoted to vice president of operations.
Nicosia has 18 years of operations and team leadership experience.
At 19, he helped run his father’s flooring company while earning his bachelor’s degree.
He later spent more than a decade with the NYPD, according to his LinkedIn profile, and also founded and ran a private security company.
“Physical security isn’t a product; it’s a process. It means the right level of security, the right installation, location, placement, the right service plan, and the right people executing all of it,” said Nicosia.
“I have spent my whole career running teams where the plan had to work the first time. My job now is to make sure Empire Safe delivers that process flawlessly, every time.”
Krasilovsky also commented on the promotion: “Joe has run crews, led teams under pressure, and built a business of his own. He came to Empire and learned our business from the ground up before he asked to run any of it. That is exactly the kind of operator this company needs, and our clients will feel the difference in how every job gets delivered.”
Founded in 1904, Empire Safe & Vault designs and specifies high-security safes, vaults, and custom interiors for jewelers, high-end retailers, financial institutions, and private residences, including its Diamond TDR (Torch and Tool Resistant) product line.
The company operates a flagship showroom in Manhattan, as well as a warehouse and service operation in the Bronx. Empire delivers throughout North America and overseas.
For more information, visit its website.
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