Eiffel Tower operator's CEO resigns following scandal over removal of female staff
The head of the company operating the Eiffel Tower will step down after an internal investigation into an incident in which female employees were removed from duty during a private visit by a Hindu religious group.
Patrick Branco Ruivo, CEO of Société d'exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), told employees that he would leave the company by the end of the year after eight years at the organization, Politico reported.
His departure follows an internal investigation that identified a series of “dysfunctions and shortcomings” at the company. The investigation was launched after female employees were told not to work during a private visit by the Hindu organization BAPS on Sept. 5.
Around 100 members of the group visited the Eiffel Tower that day. According to staff representatives, female employees were replaced by male colleagues and instructed not to enter or pass through certain areas while the delegation was present.
BAPS practices strict separation between men and women in some religious settings, including during visits to temples and when entering certain buildings.
The decision prompted outrage among Eiffel Tower staff, who went on strike on Sept. 7. SETE subsequently launched the internal investigation.
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