A high-ranking bank executive has been dismissed just days after the company's Christmas party, following allegations he posed for a photograph depicting a 'mock act of terrorism' with a junior colleague.
The Controversial Incident at The Ivy
Robert Webb, the 54-year-old Chief Information Officer for Ubank, was fired on Monday. The dismissal relates to an alleged incident at the digital bank's end-of-year function, held recently at The Ivy venue in Sydney's central business district. Ubank is a digital subsidiary of the National Australia Bank.
It is alleged that during the party, a photo was taken in a Merivale photo booth where Mr Webb knelt upright with his hands behind his back. A junior colleague, who had draped a towel over their head in a manner resembling a headdress, pointed their hands, shaped like a gun, towards the executive. An unnamed staff member described the scene as a 'highly disturbing image' involving a 'mock terrorist or hostage situation'.
A Swift Corporate Response
The scandal became public on Tuesday when the prominent business Instagram page, The Aussie Corporate, shared details provided by a Ubank employee. The page later published an apparent warning from Ubank CEO Kanishka Raja posted in a company Slack channel.
In his message, Mr Raja emphasised the importance of the bank's brand and culture, stating that all staff have a responsibility to uphold its Code of Conduct. 'The standards and consequences it sets out apply to everyone without exception,' he wrote, adding that he had been informing teams that the individual in question had left the bank.
In a statement to the Daily Mail, Mr Raja confirmed 'there was an executive departure on Monday'. He stated, 'Senior leaders are expected to model appropriate behaviour consistent with our policies. We take matters relating to our Code of Conduct extremely seriously. We have investigated thoroughly and acted swiftly.'
A Global Career Unravels
The incident has abruptly halted the career of a well-travelled banking professional. Robert Webb had only celebrated his first anniversary with Ubank in November, having joined as CIO in November of the previous year. His LinkedIn profile shows he has since removed the Ubank role from his experience section.
Mr Webb's career spanned over a decade in various management roles at the Commonwealth Bank in Sydney and Hong Kong, followed by a two-year stint as a general manager for NAB in Melbourne. In October 2020, he relocated to the United Arab Emirates to become Senior Vice President at First Abu Dhabi Bank. Prior to Ubank, he also served a year as Chief Digital Officer at Vetcombank in Hanoi and founded an agricultural company in Adelaide.
Mr Webb did not respond to requests for comment. During the Covid pandemic in 2021, his plans to return to Australia made news when he and his wife purchased a property on the NSW south coast for over $3.5 million after only a video inspection.
A Seasonal Warning for Employers
The case highlights the perennial risks associated with office festive parties. Employment lawyer Dan Feldman told the Daily Mail that December is a busy period for such inquiries, often involving incidents where 'too much alcohol is involved'.
He warned that employers retain a duty of care at off-site, work-sponsored functions, and liability can extend to after-parties if managers continue to pay for drinks. Common issues include sexual harassment, bullying, and violence, with pre-existing behavioural problems often 'exacerbated' by alcohol.
The swift action by Ubank underscores the heightened scrutiny on corporate culture and the conduct of senior leadership, particularly in the sensitive aftermath of global events concerning terrorism and appropriate workplace behaviour.
