• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

The affordability crisis is so bad that, for the first time ever, both mom and dad are working full-time in most American families

2

Current price of oil as of June 17, 2026

3

Exclusive: Universal beat Disney as Hollywood's maker of the most expensive movie of all time 

1

The affordability crisis is so bad that, for the first time ever, both mom and dad are working full-time in most American families

2

Current price of oil as of June 17, 2026

3

Exclusive: Universal beat Disney as Hollywood's maker of the most expensive movie of all time 
TechAustralia
Asia

Scandal-plagued billionaire White retakes control of WiseTech

By
Angus Whitley
Angus Whitley
and
Bloomberg
Bloomberg
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Angus Whitley
Angus Whitley
and
Bloomberg
Bloomberg
Down Arrow Button Icon
February 26, 2025, 3:13 AM ET
Richard White has used his 37% stake in the company to muscle his way back into control.
Richard White has used his 37% stake in the company to muscle his way back into control. Brent Lewin—Bloomberg via Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

“I’m here for the long haul.”

Recommended Video

With those words, Richard White on Wednesday stamped his renewed authority over WiseTech Global Ltd. following months of damaging revelations about his behavior.

The billionaire’s appointment as executive chairman of the Australian freight-software giant, four months after he quit as chief executive officer, caps a remarkable series of events that have whipsawed the shares at every turn. 

White’s future looked fragile in October. Under siege after a string of media reports about his conduct and relationships, he stepped down as CEO and agreed to a role as an external consultant of the company he founded more than 30 years ago and grew into one of Australia’s biggest listed firms. 

This month, yet more accusations against him surfaced, widening a board investigation and threatening to further destabilize the company. The drama reached its climax two days ago when almost every director resigned, citing “intractable differences” over White’s role. 

In effect, White has used his 37% stake in the company to muscle his way back into control. 

Now that White’s back at the helm, he’s downplaying the relevance of governance, and spearheading the most critical elements of any company. White is overseeing product development and growth, and leading the search for a permanent CEO. That makes him the primary authority on both executive succession and WiseTech’s future as a business.

“I am fully engaged,” White told analysts on a call less than an hour after his appointment was announced. He assured them of his “absolute commitment” to WiseTech. 

WiseTech shares, which have soared and plunged on every twist and turn in the saga, climbed as much as 8.4% in early Sydney on Wednesday, a reflection of White’s importance to WiseTech in the eyes of investors.  

The shares pared some of their initial gains to be up 2% at A$96.46 at 12:45 p.m. local time, valuing the company at about A$32 billion ($20 billion).

On Wednesday’s widely anticipated conference call, most analysts focused on the granular details of WiseTech’s first-half results, which showed net income rose 38%. The tumultuous developments of the past few months were mostly ignored. The few who asked questions about the scandal and the board’s implosion received little from White, who was joined by interim CEO Andrew Cartledge and Caroline Pham, the interim chief financial officer.

One analyst asked if the board—or what’s left of it—would make its governance review public. Cartledge had nothing to add. Have any senior WiseTech managers quit during the upheaval, another asked. No, was the answer. How have customers reacted to the board’s collapse? Hardly at all, came the response.

Media weren’t allowed to ask questions.

Perhaps the most telling summary came from White himself. WiseTech’s customers around the world, he told analysts, care little about governance issues in Australia. They’re more worried about their own businesses and the value WiseTech can create for them, he said.

The allegations against White included claims that he’d paid millions of dollars to a former partner to settle allegations of inappropriate behavior, and that he’d had a relationship with an employee and gifted her a A$7 million house. A former board member accused White of intimidation and bullying, the Australian Financial Review said.

The board’s preliminary findings, released in November, cleared White of bullying or intimidation. It concluded that he “has a direct approach and from time to time is involved in robust and challenging discussions.”

White’s return to the top of WiseTech sends a message to investors about the company’s priorities.

“The potential danger for WiseTech shareholders was a potential loss of talent,” said Matthew Haupt, a portfolio manager at Wilson Asset Management in Sydney, who holds WiseTech shares. “What we got today was an implicit guarantee that personnel won’t be sacrificed for non work-related incidents.”

About the Authors
By Angus Whitley
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
By Bloomberg
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.


Latest in Tech

Senator Ruben Gallego arriving with a binder in hand at a news conference on Capitol Hill.
EconomyEmployment
Exclusive: Arizona senator warns ‘ghost jobs’ are warping labor data, presses Trump admin to investigate
By Camila Grigera NaónJune 18, 2026
51 minutes ago
baer
Startups & VentureObituary
Joshua Baer, the architect of Austin’s tech scene, dies at 50
By Ed White and The Associated PressJune 18, 2026
2 hours ago
Gary Lockwood talks to Keir Dullea in a scene from the film '2001: A Space Odyssey', 1968.
AIGoogle DeepMind
Google DeepMind unveils plan to protect itself from its own rogue AI agents
By Jeremy KahnJune 18, 2026
2 hours ago
ben
InvestingHedge Funds
The next-generation ‘Tiger Cubs’ who see the AI bubble risk—and know exactly where the next trade is
By Nick LichtenbergJune 18, 2026
3 hours ago
A $5.6 billion valuation and rapid global expansion—this AI European-scaler even threw in a free Jude Law 
EuropeLetter from London
A $5.6 billion valuation and rapid global expansion—this AI European-scaler even threw in a free Jude Law 
By Kamal AhmedJune 18, 2026
5 hours ago
Whatnot is worth $11.5 billion—and its sellers just hit one billion orders
NewslettersTerm Sheet
Whatnot is worth $11.5 billion—and its sellers just hit one billion orders
By Allie GarfinkleJune 18, 2026
5 hours ago

Most Popular

The affordability crisis is so bad that, for the first time ever, both mom and dad are working full-time in most American families
Economy
The affordability crisis is so bad that, for the first time ever, both mom and dad are working full-time in most American families
By Jacqueline MunisJune 17, 2026
18 hours ago
Current price of oil as of June 17, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 17, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 17, 2026
1 day ago
Exclusive: Universal beat Disney as Hollywood's maker of the most expensive movie of all time 
Arts & Entertainment
Exclusive: Universal beat Disney as Hollywood's maker of the most expensive movie of all time 
By Christian SyltJune 17, 2026
1 day ago
'Work hard, stay loyal, and the system will reward you': the Boomer credo is a Gen X betrayal and a Millennial pipe dream
Success
'Work hard, stay loyal, and the system will reward you': the Boomer credo is a Gen X betrayal and a Millennial pipe dream
By Nick LichtenbergJune 16, 2026
2 days ago
Hundreds of Stanford students walked out of their grad ceremony to protest Google CEO’s commencement speech. It wasn’t all about AI
Big Tech
Hundreds of Stanford students walked out of their grad ceremony to protest Google CEO’s commencement speech. It wasn’t all about AI
By Tristan BoveJune 15, 2026
3 days ago
Anne Hathaway says she was spammed with ChatGPT-written thank you notes after hiring a recent role: 'Nobody on that list gets that job'
Success
Anne Hathaway says she was spammed with ChatGPT-written thank you notes after hiring a recent role: 'Nobody on that list gets that job'
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 18, 2026
8 hours ago