India, Sept. 30 -- The chief executive of the company that operates the iconic Eiffel Tower will step down at the end of the year following a backlash over the replacement of female staff with male colleagues during a visit by a Hindu religious group.

Patrick Branco Ruivo, who has served as director general of the Paris landmark since 2018, will leave his position at the end of the year, the company that operates the Eiffel Tower, SETE, said in a statement, according to the BBC.

An internal investigation found "operational flaws and shortcomings" in the organisation of the visit, which resulted in the "unacceptable" removal of female employees, the company said.

The female staff members were replaced by male colleagues during a recent ...