Paris, France – Jean-François Martins, the Chief Executive Officer of the Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), the company that manages the Eiffel Tower, has announced his resignation. The decision follows an incident in February 2024 where female employees were reportedly excluded from a control room during a visit by members of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission, a Hindu spiritual group.

Martins, who assumed the leadership of SETE in October 2021, stated he was taking "full responsibility" for what he described as a "serious error." His departure, effective at a date to be determined upon the selection of a successor, comes amidst an internal investigation launched by the company into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The controversy arose from a visit by representatives of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission to the Eiffel Tower’s control room in February. During this visit, female staff members were allegedly asked to vacate the operational space. Reports indicate that the request stemmed from a practice within the spiritual group, whose leader reportedly interacts exclusively with men. This led to the exclusion of women from the immediate vicinity during the group's presence in the control area.

Upon the incident becoming public, Martins issued an apology to the affected staff and initiated a comprehensive internal review to ascertain the full details and implement measures to prevent any recurrence. The event sparked discussions regarding workplace equality, adherence to company protocols, and the management of diverse visitor requests within a public institution.

The Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel is majority-owned by the City of Paris, and its operations are subject to French labor laws, which enshrine principles of non-discrimination and equality in the workplace. The request for female staff to leave the control room was widely regarded as a breach of these principles and the company's internal policies, irrespective of the visitors' motivations.

Martins, a former deputy mayor of Paris responsible for sports and tourism, had overseen various initiatives during his tenure, including ongoing preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, during which the Eiffel Tower is expected to play a prominent role. His resignation marks a significant leadership change for one of France's most iconic landmarks as it approaches a period of heightened global attention.

SETE has confirmed that the process to identify and appoint a new CEO will commence shortly. The incoming leader will be tasked with upholding the tower's operational excellence while reinforcing its commitment to inclusive and equitable workplace practices. The company has not yet provided a specific timeline for the appointment of Martins' successor but has indicated that the transition will be managed to ensure continuity in the management of the historic monument. The incident underscores the challenges public institutions face in balancing visitor accommodation with stringent adherence to internal policies and national legal frameworks regarding workplace rights and equality. The focus will now shift to SETE's ongoing internal investigation and any subsequent recommendations for strengthening operational protocols.