It’s the most talked-about scandal in Sydney’s high-society circles: the womanising tech billionaire who was forced to step down from his company after an alleged affair.
WiseTech Global founder Richard White is the man at the centre of the sordid saga. And after details of his extramarital relationship came to light in the Federal Court, spare a thought for his new bride Zena Nasser, to whom he has been married for just a few months.
The couple wed in a secret ceremony in the U.S. earlier this year and recently welcomed a baby via surrogate. News of their union only emerged amid White’s headline-making legal dispute with his ex-lover, the laser clinics entrepreneur Linda Rogan.
The bombshell court case saw Rogan accuse White of offering to invest in her business in exchange for sex, allegations that led to the CEO stepping down, taking a ‘short period’ of personal leave, then starting a new advisory role at the firm he founded 30 years ago.
But rather than disappearing from the limelight altogether, White’s new bride Ms Nasser is firmly entrenched in the clique of Australia’s most prominent high-society housewives.
Brushing off the lurid headlines, Ms Nasser arranged a glamorous girls’ luncheon at celebrity hotspot Mimi’s on Thursday afternoon, inviting a Who’s Who of the eastern suburbs’ socialite set – including one guest who knows a thing or two about scandals.
After details of WiseTech Global founder Richard White’s affair came to light in court, spare a thought for his new bride Zena Nasser, to whom he has been married for just a few months
The couple (pictured together) wed in a secret ceremony in the U.S. earlier this year and recently welcomed a baby via surrogate. News of their union only emerged amid White’s headline-making legal dispute with his ex-lover, the laser clinics entrepreneur Linda Rogan
The group certainly wouldn’t have run out of things to talk about during their five-hour lunch at the Coogee institution as Ms Nasser leaned on her closest friends for support after a trying few months.
No stranger to headlines herself, Ellie Aitken was on hand to lend her support and no doubt recount some war stories of her own. Ms Aitken, of course, was infamously involved in the ‘Eastern Suburbs Love Triangle’ that erupted when her husband, the high-profile stockbroker Charlie Aitken, ran off with her best friend Hollie Nasser – no relation to Zena – in November 2021.
Mr and Mrs Aitken are believed to have patched things up late last year and are now back living together in their Vaucluse mansion. Ellie may have offered some words of wisdom to Zena having emerged from the affair with her marriage intact.
The two were joined by a host of glamorous women at the lunch, including the socialite Eleni Taylor, who was – briefly – linked to celebrity accountant Anthony Bell before it emerged she was a client of his, not a girlfriend.
Mr Bell is now happily married to the former cricket WAG Annika Martyn, having tied the knot near Noosa last month.
The designer Amanda Lennon, who is married to Nicholas Lennon, the boss of property development business Lennium Group, was also in attendance, along with Marie Andrews, Barbara Coombes, Kate Champion and Australian Ballet ambassador Dora Lincoln.
The ladies who lunched seemed to have one crystal-clear message for Zena, as several were seen clutching copies of the aptly titled self-help book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*** by Mark Manson.
Flashing megawatt smiles as they stepped out of the five-star establishment, it was hard to ignore the bright orange books with the covers turned conveniently towards the paparazzi.
Rather than disappearing from the limelight, former criminal defence lawyer Ms Nasser arranged a girls’ lunch at Mimi’s in Coogee on Thursday, inviting a Who’s Who of the eastern suburbs’ socialite set – including one guest who knows a thing or two about scandals, Ellie Aitken (right)
Ellie Aitken endured a public marriage split in 2021 when her husband Charlie’s affair with her friend Hollie Nasser was splashed across the tabloids. (The Aitkens are seen in October 2014)
Ms Nasser is firmly entrenched in the clique of Australia’s most prominent high-society housewives. Three of the guests are pictured here arriving at Mimi’s
Putting her best foot forward, former criminal defence lawyer Ms Nasser showed off her incredible figure in a cream satin vest top with a lace trim, which she styled with a pair of white tailored pants.
No stranger to showing off her designer wardrobe, she added a few extra inches to her height in a pair of white heels and accessorised with a Van Cleef necklace.
She toted an array of gifts bags, including one from Chanel, as she and her friends weighed themselves down with a collection of goodies specially organised for the luncheon.
Meanwhile, Mrs Aitken, whose famous friends include the likes of Pip Edwards, Natalie Gruzlewski and Michael Clarke, wore a leggy black dress, black heels and designer shades, and completed her luxury look with a $15,000 Cartier wristwatch.
She endured a very public and brutal marriage split in 2021 when her husband Charlie’s affair with her best friend Hollie Nasser was splashed across the tabloids.
The scandal rocked the tight-knit eastern suburbs, not only because of Hollie and Ellie’s close friendship, but the fact Hollie was married to Charlie’s business partner Christopher Nasser. The Nassers later split over the affair and resulting public attention.
Despite an acrimonious break-up that was widely publicised at the time, Ellie and Charlie appeared to have reunited by December 2023, with reports emerging the two were again living under one roof at their marital home in Vaucluse.
A friend claimed the tumultuous couple, who share two children, were back together. However, another source suggested it was a domestic, rather than romantic, arrangement.
Putting her best foot forward, Ms Nasser showed off her incredible figure in a cream satin vest top with a lace trim, which she styled with a pair of white tailored pants
The group certainly wouldn’t have ran out of things to talk about during their five-hour lunch
The ladies who lunched seemed to have one crystal-clear message for Ms Nasser, as many were seen clutching copies of the aptly titled self-help book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F***
Flashing megawatt smiles as they stepped out of the five-star establishment, it was hard to ignore the bright orange books with the covers turned conveniently towards our photographer
No stranger to showing off her designer wardrobe, Ms Nasser added a few extra inches to her height in a pair of white heels and accessorised with a high-end Van Cleef necklace
She toted an array of designer gifts bags, including one from Chanel, as she and her friends weighed themselves down with a collection of goodies specially organised for the luncheon
Ms Nasser married billionaire Richard White in America sometime earlier this year before welcoming a daughter named Jasmine via surrogate in July
She enhanced her stunning features with a high-glamour make-up palette and styled her golden tresses in loose waves
Two of the guests opted to show off their long legs in extremely short skirts and high heels
A blonde woman in a tartan skirt drew attention to her ample assets with a pendant necklace
All eyes were on a bronzed brunette as she stepped out of an Uber
Despite being briefly linked to Bahamas-based fund manager Mark Holowesko after her initial split from Charlie, Ellie has lately been sporting a huge diamond sparkler on her ring finger – seemingly the same one she wore before her husband’s indiscretion.
Perhaps she offered advice to Ms Nasser on how to forgive and forget in the wake of White’s recent alleged philandering? If only walls could talk!
Regardless, the photos from the glamorous catch-up show Ms Nasser seemingly without a care in the world. Whatever’s going on in her marriage – the first months of which have been undeniably tumultuous – she seems, on the surface, to still be on cloud nine.
Ms Nasser married billionaire White in America sometime earlier this year before welcoming a daughter named Jasmine via surrogate in July. Just five weeks ago, White finally settled his long-running legal dispute with his ex-lover Linda Rogan.
In the widely publicised court case, which coincided with the ‘honeymoon period’ of his marriage to Ms Nasser, Rogan alleged White had offered to invest in her business in exchange for sex.
Rogan, who owns laser clinics in Sydney, Cairns and New Zealand, claimed to have met White through Ms Nasser after they connected on social media, with the trio going for dinner together before Rogan’s relationship with the businessman later became sexual.
One guest turned heads in a cream satin mini dress with floral detailing on the bodice, which highlighted her eye-popping cleavage
The designer Amanda Lennon, who is married to Nicholas Lennon, the boss of property development business Lennium Group, was also in attendance
Dora Lincoln cut a vibrant figure in a bright orange dress and green heels
At the centre of the Federal Court proceedings was a $13.1million mansion in Sydney’s east, which Rogan claimed White had bought for her to live in with her three children.
Rogan, who never moved into the house, claimed White took back the keys after Ms Nasser discovered they were in a romantic relationship.
Last year, Rogan successfully sought a local court order that White reimburse her for $92,123 she allegedly spent on furnishing the Vaucluse house.
The businessman had the order overturned and, in August, issued a bankruptcy notice against Rogan, which she was seeking to have set aside.
The tech tycoon later settled the matter with the beauty entrepreneur, with Rogan filing a notice of discontinuance with the Federal Court last month.
A spokesman for White told The Australian newspaper: ‘Mr White and Ms Rogan have settled the Federal Court proceedings which related to a commercial dispute.
‘Ms Rogan has withdrawn all her allegations, and the parties are not pursuing any further court action.
‘Given this was a personal matter Mr White has settled to avoid any distraction from his primary focus which is on implementing WiseTech’s growth strategy and continuing to create value for its shareholders and customers.’
Five weeks ago, White finally settled his long-running legal dispute with his former lover Linda Rogan, who claimed he had offered to invest in her business in exchange for sex. At the centre of the Federal Court proceedings was a $13.1million Vaucluse mansion, which Rogan claimed White had bought for her to live in with her three children
Shares in White’s company WiseTech plummeted while he was doing battle with Rogan in the Federal Court. He then stepped down as the business’ chief executive after settling the matter
Shares in White’s company WiseTech Global plummeted while he was doing battle with Rogan in the Federal Court. He then stepped down as the business’ chief executive after settling the matter.
WiseTech’s board said they had agreed to him stepping down, with chief financial officer Andrew Cartledge to assume the role of interim chief executive.
White stepped away to take ‘a short period’ of personal leave but will take on a new advisory role in the company after the conclusion of a ‘challenging’ period in his life.
‘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,’ he said in a statement to the ASX.
‘I want to assure all those who have supported WiseTech, as customers, colleagues, and shareholders, that I remain absolutely committed to seeing this incredible organisation continue to thrive and grow in the coming years.’
White will ‘participate’ in the company’s investor day on December 3 as he looks to rebuild his professional reputation and move on with his marriage to Ms Nasser.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk