Paris Eiffel Tower says chief to step down after uproar over removing women staff
The chief of the Eiffel Tower operating company will step down following a controversy involving the removal of female staff during a visit by a Hindu religious group. An internal probe identified operational flaws that led to the staff being sidelined.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the tension between cultural sensitivity and workplace equality standards in major international tourist landmarks.
The operating company that runs the Eiffel Tower said Tuesday (September 29, 2026) its chief would step down at the end of this year in the wake of a controversy over the removal of women staff during a visit by a Hindu religious group.
Patrick Branco Ruivo, who has been in charge of the Paris landmark since 2018, would leave his job at the end of the year after an internal probe revealed that "operational flaws and shortcomings" in organising the visit led to the "unacceptable" removal of women staff, the company SETE said in a statement.
The Eiffel Tower was closed on September 7, because of a strike by staff over the removal of female colleagues during a visit by a Hindu religious group, workers and management said.
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