RBC says former CFO’s texts present romance with govt

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Royal Bank of Canada stated it has proof that its former chief monetary officer engaged in an intimate relationship with a colleague that she didn’t disclose, citing exchanges between the 2 over textual content messages and emails.

Canada’s greatest lender filed an announcement of defence and counterclaim on Friday within the wrongful dismissal lawsuit filed earlier this month by Nadine Ahn, the manager it fired in April after 25 years on the financial institution.

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The authorized submitting stated Ahn started an in depth private relationship with a colleague, Ken Mason — an govt within the financial institution’s company treasury group — as early as 2013 and that it continued till the time of her departure.

The doc affords a remarkably detailed take a look at how the financial institution alleges the connection performed out over greater than a decade. It contains descriptions of how the 2 bankers incessantly met outdoors work for cocktails, celebrated anniversaries, swapped romantic poetry, and referred to as one another by pet names — “Prickly Pear” for Ahn and “KD” for Mason.

Their textual content messages “fantasized a couple of life collectively, equivalent to studying in mattress collectively,” RBC’s courtroom submitting states.

“Ms. Ahn forwarded romantic poetry to Mr. Mason, expressing that she had fallen in love with Mr. Mason when she first noticed him,” in response to the submitting. “Ms. Ahn and Mr. Mason continued to usually see one another outdoors of the workplace throughout this time interval, arranging a lunch on August 18, 2017 to have fun their ‘fourth anniversary.’”

The shut relationship continued after she was promoted to CFO in 2021, in response to the paperwork. Royal Bank alleges that Ahn used her place inside the firm to orchestrate promotions and pay raises for Mason, an endeavour it says Mason known as “Project Ken” in a doc he drew up. She additionally shared confidential data with Mason, the financial institution claims, equivalent to a draft of a speech to be given by chief govt Dave McKay.

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The submitting states that Royal Bank doesn’t have entry to their messages, “besides to the extent that Ms. Ahn and Mr. Mason copied private communications to RBC methods.”

Lawyers for Mason and Ahn didn’t reply to messages searching for remark. Ahn stated in her lawsuit that she and Mason had been mates however denied that they had been romantic companions. Mason, who filed a separate lawsuit in opposition to Royal Bank, additionally denied a romantic relationship and stated the financial institution would have handled them in another way if that they had each been males.

‘I Love You Too’

The financial institution cites “intimate communications” exchanged between the 2 by way of textual content message. As one instance, it states, “On March 11, 2019, Ms. Ahn messaged Mr. Mason to say, ‘I like you.’ Mr. Mason responded 15 seconds later, ‘I like you too.’”

The two allegedly used calendar invitations to schedule “liquidity conferences,” which the financial institution stated was code for going for cocktails. At one such assembly, the 2 scribbled notes about their drink orders and different matters equivalent to “live performance, evening out, vineyard” on a coaster from Canoe, an upscale restaurant in Toronto’s monetary district. Mason had the coaster encased in plexiglass and stored it in his workplace, Royal Bank claims.

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The financial institution stated it started investigating in March after an nameless whistleblower alleged that Ahn and Mason had been seen “hugging and kissing and exiting the elevators” on the Fairmont Royal York, a resort that’s proper beside RBC’s head workplace.

Bank officers “instantly commenced a radical investigation performed by exterior authorized counsel,” RBC spokesperson Gillian McArdle stated in an emailed assertion on Friday. “We had been disillusioned to be taught the allegations had been true.”

The Globe and Mail newspaper earlier reported on Royal Bank’s courtroom submitting.

Ahn’s lawsuit complained about the best way Royal Bank dealt with the investigation, the velocity with which she was fired after being confronted with the allegations on April 5, and the harm to her repute when the financial institution put out a press launch that very same day.

“Contrary to the statements of declare from Ms. Ahn and Mr. Mason, the investigation confirmed there was an undisclosed shut private relationship, and that Ms. Ahn misused her authority as CFO to immediately profit Mr. Mason,” McArdle stated. “As she was a Named Executive Officer, we had an obligation to reveal.”

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Ahn’s lawsuit is searching for nearly $50 million in pay and damages whereas Mason is suing Royal Bank for greater than $20 million in pay and damages.

In its counterclaim in opposition to Ahn, Royal Bank is searching for about $4.5 million for “extra compensation” paid to Mason and to claw again bonuses paid to Ahn, plus different damages and prices.

RBC’s submitting states that when one other worker raised considerations about Mason’s pay, Ahn terminated that individual’s employment with out trigger. The financial institution stated that former worker “has demanded compensation from RBC for unhealthy religion termination of his employment, due to Ms. Ahn’s conduct.”

Bloomberg.com

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