WiseTech Global co‑founder Richard White personally negotiated a multimillion‑dollar settlement with a former employee who accused him of underpayment and inappropriate conduct
WiseTech Global co-founder Richard White personally negotiated a multimillion-dollar settlement with a female employee who had made allegations against him, despite holding no official position at the company at the time, according to a recording of a February phone conversation.
According to the recording obtained by The Australian Financial Review, White, who had stepped down as chief executive in October 2024, told the unnamed woman that the board would approve a payment of $5 million to resolve her claims. The woman alleged underpayment, inappropriate conduct by White, and that his wife, Zena Nasser, had sent her emails.
“All you’ve got to do is tell them that you’re going to withdraw your claim and that you’ll sign a deed of settlement,” White told the woman. “I’ll take … [then-WiseTech chairman] Richard Dammery through the exact payments and it’ll be a termination … which will not be a for cause, there’ll be no claim against you.”
White further told the woman she would “get at least $5 million net cash tax-free,” adding that WiseTech would contribute roughly $350,000 and he would cover the difference. According to two sources briefed on the matter who could not comment publicly, the then board did not accept White’s personal settlement attempt, and the matter was only resolved after the board’s subsequent mass resignation.
The recording has been provided to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), which is investigating share trades White made between late December 2024 and 26 Februrary 2025 – the same period during which he was negotiating with the woman. White sold 1.87 million shares valued at more than $200 million while the company was in a blackout period, during which executives and key personnel are prohibited from trading. White has maintained he obtained legal advice confirming he was permitted to sell, as he was a consultant rather than an executive.
During the same phone call, White disclosed that a separate woman who consulted to the WiseTech board had also filed a complaint against him and was demanding $30 million. “The problem is someone can say, I don’t care, I feel injured. I’m going to go to the press unless you pay me $30 million,” White said. “It’s irrational.”
Trading probe shadows WiseTech founder
The revelations come after a turbulent stretch for WiseTech. In October, ASIC, with assistance from the Australian Federal Police (AFP), executed search warrants at WiseTech’s Sydney headquarters as part of the ongoing investigation. WiseTech shares plummeted nearly 17% to A$70.60 in the wake of the raid – their lowest level in more than six months.
At WiseTech’s annual general meeting in November 2025, White appeared emotional, wiping away tears in front of shareholders and staff. “I’m sorry,” he told roughly 100 shareholders and staff gathered at the meeting in Sydney’s Alexandria suburb. At the same meeting, newly appointed independent chair told shareholders that neither he nor the company was prepared to comment on the ongoing ASIC investigation, describing it as being “at a very early stage” with no charges or allegations against the company, The Nightly reported.
External law firms Herbert Smith Freehills and Seyfarth Shaw concluded that allegations of the inappropriate use of company funds “are not supported by evidence,” clearing White on all remaining misconduct allegations. The internal WiseTech investigation that wrapped up in December found no evidence that White had inappropriately used company funds. Nevertheless, White and three employees remained under investigation by ASIC and the AFP over alleged insider trading and share sales during a prohibited blackout period, with no charges laid.
