Four Industry Leaders Join PBGH Board to Drive Healthcare Change

OAKLAND, CA, UNITED STATES, October 1, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Four leading benefits executives have joined the board of the Purchaser Business Group on Health (PBGH), a coalition of more than 40 employers and public purchasers that collectively spend approximately $350 billion annually on healthcare for 21 million Americans and their families. The new directors bring a wealth of experience in benefits innovation, direct contracting, financial stewardship, and industry accountability, positioning PBGH to address the growing challenges faced by employers in managing healthcare costs.

Claire Brockbank, Director of 32BJ Health Fund, leads one of the largest self-insured funds in New York State, serving more than 200,000 covered lives with contributions from 5,000+ employers, ranging from small businesses to global real estate firms across 12 states. With no profits or shareholders, 32BJ Health Fund pays more than $1.5 billion in claims annually and is dedicated to providing workers with access to the highest quality healthcare, offering no premium sharing, low and $0 copays, and a freestanding Union Health Center and Dental Center. In 2025, Brockbank led the Fund’s collaboration with Northwell Direct to reach the largest direct healthcare contract of its kind in the country, generating significant savings while expanding access to high-quality care for its participants.

Chris DeCou, PhD, Clinical Psychologist and Director of Amazon Health Benefits, leads Amazon’s Global Health Benefits organization, which designs, delivers, and measures health benefits for 1.5 million employees and their families across 62 countries. He oversees Amazon’s medical plan strategy, carrier and vendor relationships, direct-contracting initiatives, pharmacy and behavioral health programs, the company’s Global Employee Assistance Program, and its in-house actuarial function. His responsibilities also include international health plans and one of the largest reinsurance captives outside the United States. Previously, DeCou built and led Amazon’s Global Behavioral Health function.

Andrew Helms, Chief Financial Officer of Teachers Health Trust, a self-funded nonprofit health plan serving educators and school district employees across Southern Nevada, brings over a decade of executive financial leadership experience. Helms is passionate about transformational leadership, organizational excellence, and advancing access to high-quality, affordable healthcare. As a purchaser leader, he brings a practical perspective on managing healthcare costs while preserving quality for the populations he serves.

Sara Richards, Director of Benefits at Red Bull, leads the strategy and design of Red Bull’s U.S. health, welfare, and retirement programs. Her experience spans consulting, third-party administration, and in-house benefits leadership, providing her with a broad perspective on designing and managing benefits that respond to employee needs.

The new directors will help guide PBGH’s work to turn shared purchaser priorities into action. PBGH’s initiatives include the PBGH Care Excellence Program, which establishes purchaser-defined standards for high-quality advanced primary care, and the Data Transparency Initiative, which provides purchasers with price, claims, and quality insights to evaluate value and strengthen accountability. By bringing employers and public purchasers together around practical solutions, PBGH aims to improve both how healthcare is purchased and the care workers and families receive.

For more than 35 years, PBGH has combined purchaser collaboration, policy advocacy, healthcare improvement, and unconflicted expertise to advance higher-quality, more affordable care and industry accountability.