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Eiffel Tower Director to Step Down After Probe Finds Operational Failures

An external inquiry that flagged disfunctions at the monument has led the operator to order governance and equality reforms to restore staff confidence.

Overview

  • Patrick Branco Ruivo announced he will leave his post at the Société d'exploitation de la tour Eiffel at the end of the year after weeks of pressure.
  • The crisis began in early September when female employees were excluded during a private visit by an ultraconservative Hindu group, a decision the operator called unacceptable.
  • Staff held a strike that closed the monument for a full day in protest, forcing immediate internal and external investigations.
  • An externally commissioned report cited operational disfunctions in areas such as protocol, security, finances and internal control, and Le Monde later highlighted systemic risks to staff safety and the site’s oversight.
  • SETE chair Ariel Weil has announced creation of a dedicated protocol service and mandatory equality training, and Paris authorities and unions will now watch how those measures are implemented.