OpinionJuly 7, 2026 — 3:21pmHow many more governance reshuffles is WiseTech going to endure before it comes to the conclusion that its founder Richard White’s infamy outweighs his contribution?When White’s first personal sex scandal made him a cause celebre in late 2024, the company’s share price seriously wobbled on fears that that his position leading the company would be under threat.Richard White’s fall has been protracted.Fast-forward almost two years and Tuesday’s announcement of his demotion from chairman to an executive director has prompted the WiseTech share price to jump as much as 10.7 per cent.It clearly suggests that a tipping point has been reached after last month’s reports in the Sydney Morning Herald and the Australian Financial Review that he was being investigated by the Australian Federal Police over allegations he exploited a woman’s immigration status and financial insecurity for sex, and provided false information on a visa application.White categorically denies the explosive allegations. But shareholders – even those who don’t subscribe to the niceties of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and who retained allegiance to White through previous allegations that he stalked women on social media platform LinkedIn, claims that he had offered personal financial investment in return for sex, and an ASIC investigation into alleged insider trading in WiseTech shares – had to acknowledge the latest accusations were extreme.The company’s announcement, from WiseTech’s incoming chair Raelene Murphy, made it clear enough that this latest change on the governance chessboard was the result of pressure from other shareholders.She said she had proactively engaged with shareholders and shared their “strong feedback” with White and the board.Even White conceded that the negative publicity had spurred investors to bet on the company’s share price to fall further – a practice known as short selling.Thus White, the entrepreneur who founded the software logistics company, has become a liability rather than the asset he once was to WiseTech’s share price.His continued inclusion in the governance line-up at WiseTech is tantamount to White shooting himself in the (financial) foot.WiseTech has moved well beyond the startup of 30 years ago and arguably doesn’t need its founder to take an active role in management. It is a mature company capable of being run by professional management.Would White be doing himself a favour by selling down his stake to a level where he no longer has a controlling shareholding, or selling out altogether? You would have to think so.While he remains on the board as an executive director, the company’s independent board has effectively only half killed the king.This is not to detract from White’s business acumen or his strategic genius and innovative nous in taking the company from garage incubation into, at its peak, a $40 billion Australian technology leader.But his continued governance at the company is doing shareholders, of which he is the largest, no favours.It is fanciful to suggest that White will not have a very active and outsized role in decision-making going forward, given he is an executive director and chief innovation officer. The chief executive of WiseTech, Zubin Appoo, is not even on the board.The governance line-up at WiseTech has changed numerous times over the past 18 months, with a mass defection of the previous board and the (ultimately reversed) sin-binning of White to the position of consultant.If ever there was a company that needed stability, WiseTech is it.The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.More:Executive shake-upRichard White Wisetech GlobalASX LimitedFor subscribersOpinionFrom our partners