Lorna Hajdini, a prominent executive director in JPMorgan Chase's leveraged finance division, is at the center of a recently filed lawsuit in New York. A former male employee, identified by the New York Post as Chirayu Rana, has accused Hajdini of coercion, racial harassment, and treating him as a "sex slave."
Hajdini, 37, has vehemently denied all allegations. JPMorgan, also named in the suit, stated that its internal review found no merit to the claims.
Allegations Detailed in the Lawsuit
The lawsuit, initially filed under the pseudonym John Doe, outlines serious accusations against Hajdini. The complainant alleged that the abuse began in 2024 and included being drugged with substances such as Rohypnol and Viagra, followed by forced sexual encounters. He also claimed Hajdini threatened his bonus if he did not comply with her demands.
Amid the unfolding controversy, Ms. Hajdini's LinkedIn account was deleted, and her Instagram profile became inaccessible, with social media users suggesting it had been set to private.
JPMorgan's Response and Lawsuit Discrepancies
JPMorgan Chase has maintained its stance that an internal investigation found no evidence to support the former employee's allegations. The lawsuit itself was reportedly retracted for corrections after its initial filing.
Reports have highlighted several discrepancies within the complaint. One notable point questions the claim that Hajdini controlled Rana's bonus, given that while both worked in leveraged finance, they reported to different managers. Additionally, there were conflicting reports regarding Rana's origin, with some sources describing him as Indian and others as Nepalese.
The New York Post also reported that Rana had previously sought to negotiate a multi-million-pound settlement to depart from the firm.
Who Is Lorna Hajdini?
Lorna Hajdini has a distinguished career spanning 15 years at JPMorgan Chase. She joined the bank as an analyst in 2011 and rose to an executive position in 2021. As an executive director in leveraged finance, her role involves significant corporate deals and large financing transactions, working with private equity, technology, and retail clients.
Academically, Hajdini studied finance and statistics at New York University's Stern School of Business and also attended Harvard Business School.