Nadine Ahn denies RBC's allegations of a secret relationship, calling the dismissal "manufactured"
Nadine Ahn, former chief financial officer of Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), claims the bank is “manufacturing” a reason for her dismissal, according to a report by Financial Post.
The allegations involve an undisclosed personal relationship with Ken Mason, a former executive in the treasury department.
Ahn, who was terminated in April, denies any romantic involvement with Mason, insisting they were merely “good friends” and that she did not use her position to influence his promotions or compensation.
Ahn's dismissal followed an investigation triggered by an anonymous whistleblower’s complaint. She has since filed a wrongful dismissal lawsuit, maintaining her innocence.
In response, RBC alleged they have over a decade of communications between Ahn and Mason, which they say proves an undisclosed intimate relationship. According to the bank, the two used pet names, shared romantic poetry, celebrated anniversaries, and met outside of work for drinks.
Ahn disputes these claims, stating that the bank's conclusions are based on “conjecture and speculation.” Her lawyer, Mark Fletcher, added that RBC “selectively quoted” the communications between Ahn and Mason, stressing that there is no policy at the bank prohibiting workplace friendships.
RBC, while declining to comment on the new filings, referred to previous statements in which they confirmed that the allegations were confirmed after an external investigation. The bank noted its obligation to disclose Ahn’s dismissal publicly as she was a named executive officer.
Mason, who has also filed a wrongful dismissal suit, has not yet commented. Fletcher defended Mason’s promotions and pay raises, asserting that Ahn supported these decisions because they were merit-based and followed the bank's checks and balances procedures.
In her court filing, Ahn argued that RBC’s policies do not require employees to disclose workplace friendships and pointed out that executives frequently socialized outside of work and even took vacations together.
Ahn also denied the bank’s accusations that she shared confidential information with Mason or lied to investigators. She contrasted her situation to an instance where she fired an employee for not disclosing a romantic relationship, emphasizing that her friendship with Mason was “fundamentally different.”
