Eiffel Tower Director Resigns Amid Controversy Over Sidelining Female Staff
Patrick Branco Ruivo, the chief executive of the Eiffel Tower operating company (SETE), announced his resignation, effective at the end of the year. This decision follows a significant controversy in early September where female employees were excluded during a visit by an ultraconservative Hindu group, the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha. The incident led to a staff strike and the closure of the iconic landmark for a full day on September 7. Two investigations initiated by Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire revealed a series of organizational malfunctions and shortcomings in handling protocol visits, which resulted in the unacceptable exclusion of female staff. SETE, responsible for managing the Eiffel Tower, is a public entity predominantly owned by the City of Paris.
