OrthoLite®, a global leader in high-performance, comfort-focused footwear solutions, has appointed Raj Santhana as the new Vice President of Operational Excellence. In this role, Santhana will oversee manufacturing innovation, excellence, automation, and digital transformation as part of OrthoLite’s global operations management team. He will collaborate with the company’s Global Foam Innovation Team from a new satellite office in Singapore, advancing OrthoLite’s commitment to producing industry-leading footwear foams.
Santhana brings over 20 years of experience in footwear and manufacturing, having previously served as Global Head of Quality at Bata in Singapore. His background also includes seven years at Adidas, where he held director roles in quality and manufacturing excellence.
“Raj’s extensive experience in the footwear industry, coupled with his engineering expertise, will be instrumental in driving our operational excellence initiatives for OrthoLite’s global team of 3,200 across our manufacturing facilities,” said Richard Bevan, OrthoLite COO.
In addition to Santhana’s hire, OrthoLite has promoted Shaw Kiat Phua to Vice President of Global Foaming, leading the Global Foam Innovation Team. Based in Singapore, Phua will focus on sustainable innovations in footwear and direct the strategic development of OrthoLite’s PU materials. His role involves regular travel to OrthoLite’s manufacturing sites across China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Europe, India, and Brazil, as he continues to report to COO Richard Bevan.
Since its founding in 1997, OrthoLite has consistently driven innovation and excellence in foam footwear products, supplying over 550 brand partners with high-quality insoles. Known for its reliability and collaborative approach, OrthoLite delivers custom insole formulations that enhance comfort and performance, reaching over 600 million pairs of footwear annually.
