Nadine Ahn says she had a chance to become the first woman to run Royal Bank of Canada before she was fired over a personal relationship with a colleague.

Ahn “was identified by RBC as a possible successor for the CEO position,” according to a lawsuit she filed against the lender.

She was promoted to chief financial officer in 2021 and “maintained a spotless employment record,” the lawsuit states. “Over 25 years of employment with RBC, Ms. Ahn proved herself as a loyal, trustworthy, and an extraordinarily talented leader, who overcame many gender-based hurdles during her employment.”