WiseTech Global’s four independent board members have quit in protest over its scandal-plagued founder Richard White’s ongoing involvement with the firm amid continued revelations about his explosive marriage.
The $41billion software giant’s chairman, Richard Dammery, and three independent directors – Lisa Brock, Michael Malone and Fiona Pak-Poy – will all leave the company this week.
Their departure sent the company’s share price tumbling on Monday and follows months of damaging revelations about Mr White, his string of controversial romances and allegations of his inappropriate, sexually manipulative interactions with women.
It comes after the billionaire made headlines last year following revelations he had bought a $7million mansion for his former partner of seven years, Christine Kontos, while departing WiseTech director Christine Holman accused him of bullying and intimidation in 2019.
Even though he stepped down as chief executive of the company he co-founded last October, there had been growing concerns over his ongoing advisory role and continued influence – and 38.7 per cent controlling stake – of the outfit.
In a statement to the n Securities Exchange on Monday, the global logistic software outfit said the board members had ‘determined it is in the best interests of the Company to stand aside’.
‘This followed intractable differences in the Board and differing views around the role of the Founder and Founding CEO, Richard White,’ the notice said.
It said all four would exit the company ‘after the signing of the half-year financial report and release of half-year results to ASX on Wednesday.’
Former WiseTech director Mike Gregg will immediately rejoin the board alongside co-founder Maree Isaacs and Charles Gibbon, to ensure it retains enough members to continue to be publicly listed while searching for additional replacements.
The announcement saw WiseTech investors rush to offload stock – with the stock falling from more than $120 a share to as little as $92.67 by lunchtime, though it showed since of rallying in the afternoon.
Mr White has been dogged by scandal, with revelations both he and his wife Zena Nasser are being sued by former employee Caroline Heidemann after she lodged an explosive lawsuit with the Federal Court this month.
According to the documents, Ms Heidemann claimed Mr White exploited her by providing her with ongoing financial support in return or sexual favours.
She claimed Mr White initially ‘cultivated a personal relationship’ with her while she was employed by WiseTech for 15 months by ‘presenting himself as a mentor and benefactor’.
When Ms Heidemann was made redundant during the coronavirus pandemic, he allegedly arranged for her to be hired by his private company, RealWise Management.
While the Brazilian national was not paid a wage by RealWise, Mr White allegedly rented an apartment or her in Sydney’s inner south, paid for her to take English lessons and offer her ongoing financial support.
Ms Heidemann claimed in the court documents that Mr White created an environment of ‘economic dependency’ by sponsoring her for a temporary visa as a ‘business consultant’ – thus restricting her to working or him – so he could engage in ‘unlawful conduct for sexual gratification’.
She claimed Mr White ‘made it clear that financial assistance was contingent upon…[her] engaging in a personal and sexual relationship’ with him.
Ms Heidemann also alleged he subjected her to ‘degrading treatment’ by trading her financial security and immigration status or ‘compliance with his personal and sexual demands’.
Mr White has strenuously denied the accused and said he ‘intends to vigorously defend all allegations’.
‘At no point was Ms Heidemann offered an employment contract with RealWise nor was she ever paid a salary,’ he said in a statement provided to the n Financial Review.
‘She did not at any stage undertake formal or informal work for either Mr White or RealWise.’
He conceded he had been providing Ms Heidemann with private financial support but only because they had struck up ‘a consensual personal relationship’.
Although the romance ended mid-last year, sources close to the former couple told the n Financial Review that he continued to help fund her lifestyle and had provided more than $500,000 in financial support since the start of their relationship.
Ms Heidemann is also suing Ms Nasser, who allegedly threated to have her deported after learning about her husband’s secret arrangement last year.
According to Ms Heidemann’s claim, Ms Nasser sent her ‘hostile and threatening messages’ demanding she stop ‘demanding financial support’ from her husband and leave or she would report her ‘sham visa’ to immigration authorities.
Two other women have also come forward to the WiseTech board with separate complaints through their lawyers about the billionaire’s allegedly inappropriate conduct.
The scandal surrounding Mr White erupted last year after he counter-sued former lover Linda Rogan over a $92,000 furniture bill.
Ms Rogan, who owns a laser clinic at Double Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, claimed she initially met Mr White through his wife – only for him to offer to invest in her business in exchange for sex.
She later launched a Federal Court battle over a $13.1million mansion she claimed Mr White had bought her in Sydney’s most prestigious suburbs to live in with her three children.
Ms Rogan, who never moved into the house, claimed the tech billionaire took back the keys after his wife discovered they were in a sexual relationship.
In 2023, she successfully sought a local court order that Mr White reimburse her for $92,123 she allegedly spent on furnishing the Vaucluse mansion.
Revelations about their relationship found their way into the public domain when he had the order overturned last August.
The one-time lovers eventually reached an out-of-court settlement but, by then, all the salacious details for their romance had been laid bare.
Ms Rogan, who owns laser clinics in Sydney, Cairns and New Zealand, claimed she met Mr White after his wife reached out to her on social media about two-and-a-half years ago.
Ms Nasser allegedly sent Ms Rogan an Instagram message in June 2022 which said: ‘We have some mutual friends and you came up on my page… I don’t do this ever but I was like “I have to message this stunning lady x”.’
A month later, Ms Nasser visited her Rose Bay clinic Bionik Wellness and introduced her to Mr White over Facetime.
In court documents Ms Rogan, said her relationship with Mr White soon became sexual and he offered to purchase a Vaucluse property for her.
Mr White allegedly told Ms Rogan: ‘The structure will ensure that no one will trace the property back to me or you. Zena will never know I own this house. You will live in this house forever.’
Ms Rogan claimed the deal unexpectedly fell apart the following month as she prepared to move into the mansion when she allegedly received a message from Ms Nasser.
‘You didn’t have to lie,’ Ms Nasser allegedly said. ‘Richard admitted it… please don’t come near me again.’