Billionaire Richard White bought home for partner

Richard White purchased a property in Sydney’s lower north shore for another businesswoman he was allegedly in a relationship with, before a falling out led to her taking legal action.

Billionaire Richard White purchased a property in Sydney’s lower north shore for another businesswoman he was allegedly in a relationship with, before a falling out led to her taking legal action.

The revelations are the latest in a string of accusations against Mr White over the past two weeks, which have now taken its toll on the WiseTech share price.

WiseTech shares plunged 14.6 per cent on Monday, slicing a whopping $2bn from Mr White’s shareholding for the day.

Mr White, who is already facing court allegations about a $13.1m mansion he bought for another ex-lover in Vaucluse, is alleged to have purchased a house in Lane Cove for Marcia Kensell in 2018.

Ms Kensell lodged a caveat on the property in 2020, claiming an “oral agreement that title and right to property vest with caveat”.

Property records show Mr White purchased a house at 59 Austin Street in Sydney’s Lane Cove in September 2018 for $4.1m.

Marcia Kensell lodged a caveat over a property that billionaire Richard White purchased. Picture: Marcia Kensell

Mr White and Ms Kensell were alleged to have been in a relationship at the time.

Ms Kensell has not responded to a number of requests for comment from The Australian over a number of days.

A spokeswoman for Mr White also declined to respond.

The Australian first published the latest allegations about Mr White early on Monday afternoon.

WiseTech shares finished the day at $104.65 – its lowest level since mid-August.

Mr White is WiseTech’s biggest shareholder. The company’s shares have fallen almost 24 per cent since the start of October, when details of his legal action involving another ex-lover, Linda Rogan, first became public in the Federal Court.

Ms Kensell, whose LinkedIn account says she has founded and worked at several technology consultancies, lived in another house in the Lane Cove street where Mr White purchased the property.

Former chief executive of the Professional Golfers Association of Australia and ex non-executive director of Prince Harry’s Invictus Games Brian Thorburn sold his family home at 59 Austin Street to Mr White, property records show.

Responding to questions from The Australian, Mr Thorburn said he sold his house to Mr White.

Asked if he saw Mr White at the auction with Ms Kensell, Mr Thorburn responded: “Yes, a neighbour from Austin St, Marcia Kensell was at the auction. We understood she was Mr White’s partner at the time.”

Another source told The Australian Mr White and Ms Kensell were at the property together on auction day.

According to a 2018 News.com.au story, Mr Thorburn, his wife Ally and their 11-year-old twins sold the property after living there for 16 years.

59 Austin St, Lane Cove. NSW real estate.

It was sold by Belle Property Lane Cove principals Simon Harrison and James Bennett, and the story reported the auction had three registered bidders, with two participating.

The story said a crowd of 50 people turned up and the bidding started at $3.5m. Bidders rose in increments of $100,000 and $50,000.

Ultimately the property passed in at $4.05m, with post-auction negotiations pushing the sale price up to $4.18m, according to the story.

Mr White purchased the new property for her, only for the pair to later fall out. She later took a caveat on the property in February 2020.

The pair are understood to have since settled the dispute confidentially.

Ms Kensell told acquaintances that Mr White did not want her living inside the home with her huskies.

Mr White offloaded property at 59 Austin St for $5.375m in 2021.

It is the third woman Mr White has allegedly been linked with, amid claims he was involved in two other sexual trysts with people while he was also the CEO of the ASX-listed company WiseTech Global.

Mr White, founded the company in 1994, has been approached by the WiseTech board to take a leave of absence and focus on his mental health amid allegations from entrepreneur Linda Rogan and psychologist Jenna Riches he offered them business advice in exchange for sex.

In a statement to the ASX on Monday, the WiseTech board said it was investigating several allegations against Mr White, including matters raised in Nine Entertainment publications.

“The Board is currently reviewing the full range of matters raised in today’s media reports and is actively seeking further information and taking external advice,” the company tells the ASX.

“The Board will continue to meet regularly to consider and monitor the situation, and keep the market updated in line with its continuous disclosure obligations.

“It is conscious of the potential impacts on the Company and will carefully evaluate all relevant factors in its assessment.”

WiseTech founder Richard White and wellness entrepreneur Linda Rogan. Picture: NewsWire

The recent share slide comes as WiseTech chairman Richard Dammery prepares for a “meeting blitz” this week talking to large investors and proxy advisers.

One option presented to him by the board was for Mr White to take a leave of absence from the company to focus on his mental health. Although it hasn’t yet come to that point, Mr White has considered this proposal.