Richard White

Caroline Heidemann, a former Brazilian WiseTech employee, alleged before the Federal Court that White had made financial assistance and visa-related support conditional on a sexual relationship. The civil proceedings were settled out of court in April 2025. In June 2026, Reuters and other media reported that the AFP was examining allegations that White had exploited a woman's financial and immigration circumstances for sexual purposes and provided false information in support of a visa application. The reporting preceded his resignation as executive chairman in July 2026.

Legal status — source text

reported_AFP_investigation_no_charge_reported_as_of_2026_09_03

Attribution

Directly implicated

Four independent WiseTech directors, including the chairman, resigned in February 2025, citing 'intractable differences' and disagreements over Richard White's continuing role. The share price fell by more than 20 %. Shortly afterwards, White was appointed executive chair, instead strengthening his operational presence and prompting renewed criticism of board independence and concentration of power.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Direct responsibility

The external review commissioned by WiseTech concluded that White had provided the board and investigators with incomplete, not fully transparent and misleading statements concerning two close relationships: one with an employee and another with a person connected to a supplier. It also identified undisclosed conflicts of interest in commercial arrangements with that supplier, whose terms White had negotiated directly with the person concerned.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Directly implicated

The AFP and ASIC executed a search warrant at WiseTech's offices to obtain documents concerning WiseTech share transactions attributed to Richard White and three employees. Attention focused particularly on more than 2,15 million shares sold by White between late December 2024 and late February 2025, a period described as a blackout for executives potentially holding non-public information.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Upon resigning from WiseTech's board in 2019, Christine Holman reported governance problems and alleged that she had experienced sustained intimidation and harassment by Richard White. The matter returned to prominence in 2024 when revelations concerning White led the board to commission an external review.

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Direct responsibility

The public dispute with entrepreneur Linda Rogan triggered White's reputational crisis. Rogan alleged that he had promised an investment in her business and a house in the context of an intimate relationship, then withdrawn his promises. After she secured the seizure of funds from his account for approximately 92 000 dollars in furniture expenses, White initiated bankruptcy proceedings against her. The affair brought to light allegations that business assistance had been linked to the sexual relationship.

Attribution

Personally implicated

Following coverage of the Rogan dispute, further reports alleged relationships with women to whom White had reportedly provided housing, investments or benefits, as well as inappropriate messages to female entrepreneurs. The crisis caused WiseTech's share price to fall sharply, and White stepped down immediately as CEO on 24 October 2024 while the board commissioned an external review.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Direct responsibility

In October 2019, J Capital Research published a report accusing WiseTech of overstating its profits, organic growth and certain revenues, estimating in particular that cumulative earnings since its stock market flotation might have been overstated by 178 %. The attack triggered a trading halt and substantial pressure on the share price. White, then CEO, was the central figure in the public response.

Legal status — source text

No legal proceedings

Attribution

Direct responsibility