ASX-listed WiseTech Global’s billionaire founder Richard White has been subject to more two confidential complaints , from an employee and supplier, the company conceded on Monday following media reports of more allegations of inappropriate conduct.
“These are being considered in the ongoing Board Review,” the logistics software company said in a statement to the market.
Last October, nearly 30 years after founding the $41 billion company, White resigned as WiseTech CEO and step down from the Tech Council of Australia board, amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women amid a legal battle with a former lover.
He was cleared of wrongdoing last year following independent legal reviews into his behaviour.
“WiseTech has received two confidential complaints, from an employee and a supplier to the company, making allegations in relation to the [White],” the company said in its market statement.
And another former WiseTech employee has also lodged Federal Court proceedings against White, and his wife, Zena Nasser, and private investment firm, RealWise Management, alleging Fair Work breaches.
Caroline Heidemann filed her initial complaint over the weekend in NSW alleging breaches of the general protections of the Fair Work Act.
White told the the Nine newspapers, he’d been surrounded by childhood friends and others he trusted which led to him “being open, trusting, generous and as a consequence, naive to how extreme wealth changes things”.
He added: “I was certainly not prepared for the numerous attempts to extract money from me that I have received over the past five years from people from all walks of life (both male and female). I am now much more guarded, sceptical and prepared to defend myself against spurious claims.”
Role not finalised
WiseTech also confirmed media reports that the company has yet to finalise an agreement about White’s new role there.
When his departure from the CEO role was announced, White planned to return after leave to a new full-time, 10-year consulting role, focused on product and business development, on the same $1 million salary he was paid as chief executive with the title founder and founding CEO (F&FCEO).
The company said the role “was created at the request of Richard White” with the board’s agreement.
“The fuller details of this engagement, either via a consultancy agreement with Mr White’s company, or by amending the terms of his pre-existing employment contract, consistent with the announcement on 24 October, are still in the course of being agreed,” the statement to the ASX said
“In the meantime, both the Company and Mr White have been operating broadly in accordance with what was announced.”
Earlier this year White acquired WiseTech director Maree Isaacs’ 8.17% stake in RealWise Holdings, which owns more than a third of the WiseTech. He cofounded WiseTech with her in 1994.
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