Eiffel Tower operator's chief to step down after exclusion of female staff during visit

The head of the company that operates the Eiffel Tower will step down at the end of the year. Deutsche Welle (DW) and France 24 both report the departure.

The announcement follows an incident in September. Female staff at the tower were excluded during a visit by a Hindu religious group. The incident led to a staff walkout that forced the landmark to close for a day.

The executive and the visit

According to DW, the departing executive is Patrick Branco Ruivo. He is director general of the Societe d'Exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE) and has held the post since late 2018. DW's headline and lead link his departure to the exclusion of female staff. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include a statement from Branco Ruivo or SETE giving the reason for his departure.

According to DW, the visit took place on 5 September 2026. It involved a delegation from Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a Hindu religious organization. DW reported that the delegation was in the region for celebrations connected with the inauguration of a traditional Hindu stone temple.

DW reported that management had instructed female employees not to come into contact with the delegation. According to DW, tower employees went on strike on 7 September 2026.

According to DW, the incident drew criticism from French politicians. France 24 said it sparked outrage in France.

What each side says

SETE said an independent investigation into the visit had found a series of operational failures that resulted in female employees being excluded, according to DW. DW quoted the company as describing the situation as "unacceptable". According to DW, the company had initially acknowledged that withdrawing female staff from the tower's third floor during the visit was a mistake.

SETE chair Ariel Weil said the company would introduce measures and training programs aimed at promoting gender equality, according to DW. DW also reported that a separate protocol department will be set up following the investigation.

BAPS denied asking for female employees to be removed or hidden during the visit, according to DW. DW quoted the organization as saying: "The religious practices of our monks were explained to the Eiffel Tower's management in advance. These are personal spiritual commitments, which our monks observe without seeking to impose them on others. They do not require women to be excluded from the places they visit."

What the reports do not say

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not say who in management issued the instruction to female employees, or why. They do not include a SETE account of any request from BAPS. They do not describe the investigation's full findings or say who conducted it. They do not say how many employees were affected, name a successor, identify the politicians who criticized the incident, or include comment from the striking staff or their unions.

Analysis

The case raises questions about how major public venues handle requests or expectations linked to visiting delegations, and who is accountable when staff are affected. Much depends on details not yet included in the reports reviewed by Vocemundi, such as who gave the instruction and on what basis. If the investigation's findings are released, they could clarify whether the failures were individual decisions or gaps in procedure. The planned protocol department and equality training may be tested by future high-profile visits. Staff representatives and the new leadership could also shape how the operator responds. None of these outcomes is certain.

Traceability
Sources (2): Deutsche Welle · France 24
Independent origins: 2 · Perspectives covered: west-public
Confirmed: 3 · Reported: 11 · Disputed: 0 · Confidence: medium
Review: 3 AI reviewers (Claude, GPT-5.6 Sol, Kimi) · 33/33 claims backed by 2+ reviewers with verified evidence · 0 errors · approved
Drafted: 2026-09-30 16:01 UTC

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.