# Richard Wyles

> Richard Wyles is a New Zealand software entrepreneur, co-founder and former CEO of Totara. His work spans government-funded collaboration around Moodle, leadership of the Mahara e-portfolio project, and commercial learning software built around open code, subscriptions and an international partner network. He stepped down as Totara CEO in 2022 after twelve years.

- **Role:** Software entrepreneur and open source learning technology advocate
- **Organizations:** Totara, Flexible Learning Network, Mahara, Eduforge, Mohua Social Services Charitable Trust
- **Nationality:** New Zealander
- **Education:** Victoria University of Wellington
- **Known for:** Co-founded and led Totara as CEO for twelve years., Led government-funded collaboration involving 20 universities and other education institutions contributing to Moodle., Helped establish Mahara and led the e-portfolio project.

## Career timeline

- **2003** — Secured New Zealand government funding for innovation in e-learning.
- **2006** — Co-founded Flexible Learning Network and participated in the founding collaboration around Mahara.
- **2007** — Flexible Learning Network and Catalyst IT began jointly managing and supporting Mahara with their own resources.
- **2010** — Co-founded Totara through a joint venture involving Flexible Learning Network, Catalyst IT and Kineo.
- **2011** — Totara’s initial public product release was scheduled for January; Wyles published his critique of software procurement in December.
- **2012** — TotaraLMS won Open Source Use in Business at the New Zealand Open Source Awards.
- **2017** — Published his essay on software freedom and sustainable open source business models.
- **2022** — Retired as Totara CEO after twelve years; Mark Ash succeeded him, with Wyles moving to executive chairman for the transition.
- **2023** — Thanked Totara staff and partners publicly following Tenzing’s investment; resigned his Totara Learning (Europe) directorship on 12 October.

## Achievements

- Co-founded and led Totara as CEO for twelve years.
- Led government-funded collaboration involving 20 universities and other education institutions contributing to Moodle.
- Helped establish Mahara and led the e-portfolio project.
- Co-founded Flexible Learning Network in 2006.
- TotaraLMS won the 2012 New Zealand Open Source Awards category Open Source Use in Business.

## Latest updates

- **2023-10** — Publicly thanked Totara’s past and present team and global partners following Tenzing’s investment.
- **2023-10** — UK Companies House records his resignation as a director of Totara Learning (Europe) Limited on 12 October 2023.
- **2022-09** — Totara announced Mark Ash as his successor as CEO and Wyles’s transition to executive chairman.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://nz.linkedin.com/in/richardwyles

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/richard-wyles
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22