Ousted RBC executive Ahn denies allegations of intimate relationship with subordinate
By Nivedita Balu
TORONTO (Reuters) -Royal Bank of Canada's former Chief Financial Officer Nadine Ahn has denied all allegations about her relationship with a subordinate detailed in an RBC counterclaim after she sued the bank for wrongful dismissal.
In a defense filing with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice on Thursday, Ahn said she did not breach any of her duties owed to RBC and did not violate its code of conduct.
"There is no policy against workplace friendships, and that's all this was," said her counsel, Mark Fletcher. "Their communications have been selectively quoted by the bank to try to embarrass, intimidate and maliciously manufacture a case against her."
She has sued RBC for nearly C$50 million ($37 million) and has said she had been in the running for CEO before she was terminated over the alleged relationship.
RBC filed a countersuit against Ahn in August, detailing findings of its internal investigation into what it said was an intimate relationship with a subordinate. The bank said the relationship started in 2013 or earlier.
RBC declined to comment on Ahn's defense filing. It has previously said its investigation showed there was an undisclosed personal relationship and that Ahn "misused her authority" to benefit the employee.
The subordinate has also sued the bank for about C$20 million for wrongful termination.
($1 = 1.3503 Canadian dollars)
(Reporting by Nivedita Balu in Toronto; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Edwina Gibbs)