The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) has filed a counterclaim seeking C$4.4 million against its former Chief Financial Officer, Nadine Ahn, following her dismissal in April. The claim alleges Ahn and Ken Mason, a former treasury executive, received “excess compensation” due to a personal relationship they failed to disclose, violating the bank’s code of conduct.
RBC’s legal filing, submitted to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, details evidence of an intimate relationship between Ahn and Mason, which the bank claims influenced their professional actions and compensation. The bank alleges that Ahn used her position to secure preferential treatment and pay raises for Mason, including advocating for his promotion despite objections from senior officers.
Ahn and Mason have both filed lawsuits against RBC for wrongful termination, denying the characterization of their relationship and accusing the bank of causing reputational damage.
RBC’s counterclaim further cites communications and actions between the two as evidence of misconduct, which the bank argues rendered Ahn’s continued employment untenable. RBC has requested the return of C$3.3 million in bonuses from Ahn and C$1.14 million in compensation allegedly improperly awarded to Mason.
The case adds to a series of legal challenges for RBC as it navigates the fallout from the dismissals of two of its senior executives.
