France, Sept. 30 -- Branco Ruivo has headed the Eiffel Tower Operating Company, or SETE, since 2018. The public company manages the monument for the City of Paris.

An inquiry by an independent firm uncovered a series of operational failures linked to the 5 September tour. They resulted "in female staff being excluded from the visit that day, an unacceptable situation", SETE said on Tuesday.

The decision to leave was his own, Branco Ruivo told the company's board, the French daily Le Figaro reported.

"At no point did I give any instruction aimed at sidelining or replacing women along this delegation's route," said Branco Ruivo.

"Nevertheless, women were indeed sidelined, and I regret that."

Internal inquiry opened after Eiffel Tower '...