Billionaire Richard White sensationally quits WiseTech, as Linda Rogan celebrates end to years-long legal saga

Just as embattled billionaire Richard White was announcing his exit from WiseTech amid a string of damaging claims, the woman he tried and failed to sue over $90,000 worth of furniture was strapping on her high-heels | VIDEO

WiseTech’s Richard White on Thursday afternoon after resigning as CEO. Picture: Liam Mendes

Beauty entrepreneur Linda Rogan returned triumphantly to the scene where it all started – the restaurant that ultimately led to the downfall of billionaire Richard White.

And to think it was over just $91,000 of luxury furniture.

The contrast could not have been greater. There was Ms Rogan, wearing designer clothing, striding confidently into Sydney’s upscale Bambini Trust across from Hyde Park on Thursday evening.

An hour earlier, over in industrial Alexandria, Mr White had made an ignominious exit from the WiseTech Global technology giant he had spent 30 years building only to have to quit after three weeks of scandals kept the 69-year-old in what was an awkward and unwelcome spotlight.

Wearing a casual black polo and jeans, the billionaire refused to answer a series of questions from The Australian at the front of WiseTech’s grey, low-slung ­office about the salacious controversy that has swirled around him since the start of October.

Mr White, who had a suitcase with him, said “I’m not talking” before climbing into his blue Tesla to drive away.

When asked why he had ­suddenly quit, Mr White said: “Because I have.”

It is believed Mr White will still maintain a strong, if complex, hold on the company he founded and will return in a $1m consultancy role after taking a short leave of absence.

His hasty exit on Thursday came just after a late afternoon tea to celebrate WiseTech’s 30th anniversary. Cake had been served but otherwise the mood is said to have been sombre.

Outside the building, Mr White retreated amid unanswered questions surrounding ­allegations over a string of former lovers revealed in the Federal Court and the media since the start of October. And it had all started at Bambini Trust with Ms Rogan.

In the twilight on Thursday, she strode confidently into the up-market restaurant, wearing a green velvet jacket over a black laced blouse with a Chanel bag slung over her shoulder.

She had previously dined in that very eatery with Mr White in August 2022, before the pair embarked on an affair. Ms Rogan alleged Mr White had offered to invest in her business, Bionik Wellness, in exchange for sex.

Linda Rogan arrives at Bambini Trust Restaurant & Wine Room in Sydney on Thursday evening to celebrate with her legal team. Picture: Britta Campion

That eventually led to court action over $91,000 of luxury furniture, a legal dispute and a series of revelations about Mr White’s private life, some linked to his business acumen and WiseTech role, that eventually led to him abruptly quitting on Thursday.

“During dinner, Richard said to me words to the effect of ‘I’m an entrepreneur. I have a company, Wise Tech. I’m a billionaire,’ ” Ms Rogan alleged in court documents about their first meeting at Bambini Trust.

At another meal later at the same restaurant in August 2022, Mr White allegedly offered to pay Ms Rogan a $1m annual salary after he invested in Bionik, and then said he would buy a house for her and her children to live in.

Mr White later locked Ms Rogan out of the $13.1m Vaucluse mansion he bought for her, with the house becoming the epicentre of his subsequent legal issues.

Chief financial officer Andrew Cart­ledge will assume the role of temporary CEO at WiseTech.

“It has been a challenging time for me personally, my family and close friends, and for the company that I have built and truly love,” Mr White said in a statement.

The WiseTech board said it had appointed Herbert Smith Freehills and Seyfarth Shaw to investigate “specific issues raised in recent media coverage”.

Mr White has been in the spotlight since it emerged three weeks ago that he was trying to bankrupt Ms Rogan in the Federal Court.

Linda Rogan, right, with her lawyer, Kate MacDonald, at Bambini Trust Restaurant & Wine Room on Thursday.

On Tuesday, he abandoned his case against Ms Rogan.

It’s understood he settled for more than $1m and she signed a non-disclosure agreement.

The pair’s relationship started overseas. “[I] travelled to New York at the request of Richard. Richard arranged my flights. When I arrived at the Park Lane Hotel to check in, I was informed that only 1 suite had been arranged. I ­realised that Richard expected me to enter into a sexual relationship with him to fulfil the promise that he would invest in my business. So I stayed with Richard in his suite and our relationship became sexual,” Ms Rogan said in court documents.

She spent $90,000 on luxury furniture for the Vaucluse mansion, but claimed it was useless after she was locked out when Mr White’s now wife, Zena Nasser, discovered their relationship.

Ms Rogan successfully applied for garnishee orders to get the $90,000 from Mr White’s bank account, but he ultimately filed bankruptcy proceedings against her to get the money back.

It prompted another woman, psychologist Jenna Riches, to come forward in The Australian and allege Mr White had also offered her business advice in exchange for sex. As well, The Australian revealed Mr White purchased a property in Lane Cove in 2018 for businesswoman Marcia Kensell, before their sexual relationship also fell through.

The damaging publicity was followed by allegations that several senior female executives in audit and legal functions quit WiseTech in 2019, around the same time as an attack from US short-seller researchers J. Capital, The Australian understands.

It is also understood Ms Kensell alleged she was aware of claims about bullying and a toxic workplace culture at WiseTech leading to female executives resigning, and that she had ­previously threatened to go ­public with the information. The former chairwoman of WiseTech’s audit and risk management committee Christine Holman abruptly resigned after just 11 months on the board in Nov­ember 2019.

She would not respond to claims that she resigned because of a toxic workplace culture of bullying and victimisation.

A spokeswoman for the WiseTech board refused to comment on circumstances surrounding Ms Holman’s decision to quit.

She also said the board rejected allegations of a toxic workplace and that there was a high turnover of staff. “It is not appropriate for the company to comment on employees or directors, current and former,” she said.

“We do not believe that the characterisation of the WiseTech culture is fair or warranted.

“The assertion that the company has a high turnover is incorrect relative to our peers.”

The WiseTech board spokeswoman also told The Australian that Mr White has “confirmed to the board that he has not used company funds for personal reasons”, after she was asked if he used company money to pay for cosmetic plastic surgery in 2019.