Patrick Branco Ruivo, who has served as the director general of the Paris landmark since 2018, is set to leave his position at the end of 2024. This leadership change follows an internal investigation into the management of a visit by a Hindu religious group earlier this month, during which female employees were reportedly removed from their duties.

The operating company responsible for the Eiffel Tower has publicly labeled the incident as "unacceptable." According to the findings of the internal probe, the removal of the staff members was the result of "operational flaws and shortcomings" in the planning and execution of the visit. While the company confirmed that the incident occurred, it did not provide specific details regarding the internal decision-making process that led to the exclusion of the female staff.

Both the BBC and the South China Morning Post (SCMP) report that the departure is directly linked to the controversy surrounding the staffing decisions. While the BBC focuses on the immediate nature of the resignation in the context of the incident, the SCMP provides additional context by identifying the director general by name and noting his tenure began in 2018. Neither outlet has reported on whether the religious group involved requested the staffing changes or if the decision was made entirely by Eiffel Tower management.