"RBC allegedly manipulated quotations from texts to support the dismissal of their CFO, according to the lawyer's claims."
In a recent development, former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), Nadine Ahn, has filed a lawsuit against the bank for $36 million. The lawsuit, filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in August 2024, alleges "public humiliation" and "palpable reputational harm" following her termination from the bank.
Ahn's departure from RBC was marked by controversy, linked to a scandal involving her relationship with a subordinate, Ken Mason, which triggered internal investigations and ultimately led to her firing. The controversy generated significant public attention, but the focus of Ahn's lawsuit is primarily on the impact of the termination on her reputation and career.
According to Ahn's lawyers, the email she allegedly wrote to Mason in 2015, stating "I want to see you but I don't want to pressure you," at 2:16 a.m., was written under stress and insomnia. A text message saying "I love you" was a joking response to Mason mocking her, they claim.
Ahn and Mason were good friends, Ahn asserts, and their nicknames, common in RBC's culture, had specific meanings related to their personalities. However, RBC's lawyers allege that Ahn overrode objections from senior bank officers to promote Mason. Ahn denies any knowledge of such activities.
Ahn takes issue with RBC's assertion that she fired an employee over an undisclosed relationship that was "substantively identical" to her own with Mason, stating that they were not in a romantic relationship. She also denies knowing about a poem that RBC alleged Mason wrote in her honor and denies knowing about the "LoveBook" or a coaster from a meeting between them.
RBC's countersuit cites messages between Ahn and Mason, along with mementos they made indicating they had pet names for each other. The bank also demands clawbacks of excess compensation.
Interestingly, male co-workers at RBC share close friendships, socialize outside the office, and sometimes make compensation decisions affecting their friends. However, Ahn experienced a different level of scrutiny. Her lawyers claim that she was "ambushed" during the investigation and that RBC selectively quoted communications to embarrass and intimidate her.
The lawsuit is the latest chapter in this ongoing saga, with both Ahn and RBC filing lawsuits for wrongful termination. The case promises to be a significant test of corporate governance, workplace relationships, and the treatment of women in senior leadership roles. As the case unfolds, more details are expected to emerge, shedding light on this complex and high-profile case.
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