Benefit Advisors Network (BAN) has appointed Susan Rider as its new Human Capital Management Director, expanding the employee benefits network’s advisory capabilities in workforce strategy and HR consulting. The appointment reflects growing demand among benefits brokers and consulting firms for integrated human capital expertise as employers navigate evolving workforce expectations, regulatory complexity and talent management challenges.
As employee benefits increasingly intersect with broader workforce strategy, professional services networks are expanding their human capital expertise to help employers address a rapidly changing employment landscape. Benefit Advisors Network (BAN) has taken that step by appointing Susan Rider, MS, SPHR, GBHR, REBC, as its new Human Capital Management Director.
The appointment strengthens BAN’s support for its network of independent employee benefits brokers and consulting firms across the United States and Canada, providing members with additional strategic guidance on human resources, workforce planning and organisational effectiveness.
Rider will continue serving as Senior Human Resources Consultant at Resourcing Edge, a OneDigital company, while assuming her new responsibilities within BAN. In the role, she will work closely with member firms to share HR best practices, workforce strategies and practical resources designed to help employers manage talent, compliance and employee engagement more effectively.
The move highlights a broader shift within the HR technology and employee benefits sectors, where organisations increasingly expect benefits advisers to provide strategic workforce guidance alongside traditional insurance and benefits consulting. As labour market conditions evolve and employers focus on attracting and retaining skilled talent, the integration of benefits, HR strategy and employee experience has become a key competitive differentiator.
Rider brings extensive experience advising organisations on human resources strategy, employment compliance, employee relations, performance management and organisational development. Her consulting work spans the full employee lifecycle, supporting businesses as they navigate workforce planning, policy development and operational HR challenges.
Beyond her consulting responsibilities, Rider serves as National President of the National Association of Benefits and Insurance Professionals (NABIP) and is a member of the Government Affairs Committee for the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO). These leadership positions provide experience in employee benefits policy, regulatory advocacy and workforce legislation—areas becoming increasingly important as employment regulations continue to evolve.
Her academic credentials also reinforce the appointment. Rider teaches Employment Law as an adjunct faculty member at Purdue University and is completing her final year of law school at Purdue Global, combining practical HR consulting with legal and regulatory expertise.
According to BAN President and Chief Executive Officer Perry Braun, Rider’s appointment expands the network’s leadership resources while strengthening support for member firms. He said her experience across human resources, employee benefits and workforce strategy would help members address emerging organisational challenges and adapt to changing employer needs.
The appointment reflects wider trends shaping the benefits consulting industry. Increasingly, employers are seeking advisers capable of supporting workforce transformation initiatives, including employee wellbeing, compliance, compensation strategy, leadership development and organisational resilience, rather than focusing solely on benefits procurement.
Research from Gartner indicates that HR leaders continue to prioritise workforce planning, manager effectiveness and employee experience as organisations respond to changing labour market conditions and evolving employee expectations. Meanwhile, Deloitte’s Global Human Capital Trends research highlights that businesses are integrating HR, benefits and workforce strategies more closely to improve organisational agility and long-term resilience.
Technology is also reshaping the advisory landscape. Enterprise platforms from providers such as Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle, Microsoft and ServiceNow increasingly combine benefits administration, workforce analytics and employee experience capabilities, enabling HR advisers to support data-driven workforce decisions. As digital HR ecosystems mature, consulting firms are expected to provide strategic guidance that extends beyond technology implementation to organisational transformation.
For BAN members, Rider’s appointment is expected to enhance access to expertise across HR compliance, workforce strategy and organisational effectiveness while reinforcing the network’s collaborative advisory model. Independent benefits firms continue to face growing competition from larger consulting organisations, making access to specialised leadership resources increasingly valuable.
For enterprise employers, the announcement illustrates the continued convergence of employee benefits, HR consulting and workforce strategy. As organisations confront talent shortages, regulatory change and rising expectations around employee wellbeing, integrated human capital advisory services are becoming an essential component of modern workforce management.
Market Landscape
The employee benefits industry is evolving into a broader human capital advisory market as employers seek integrated support across HR strategy, compliance, workforce planning and employee experience. Gartner identifies workforce planning and manager capability among the top priorities for HR leaders, while Deloitte’s Global Human Capital Trends report highlights increasing demand for holistic workforce strategies that combine technology, benefits and organisational development.
Benefits brokers and consulting firms are responding by expanding advisory services beyond insurance and benefits administration, positioning themselves as strategic workforce partners capable of supporting long-term business transformation.
Top Insights
- Benefit Advisors Network has appointed Susan Rider as Human Capital Management Director to strengthen workforce strategy and HR advisory support for member firms.
- Rider will continue her consulting role at Resourcing Edge while providing BAN members with guidance on compliance, organisational effectiveness and human capital management.
- Her leadership positions within national benefits and employer organisations add expertise in workforce policy and regulatory developments.
- The appointment reflects growing convergence between employee benefits consulting and broader human capital advisory services.
- Employers are increasingly seeking integrated HR, benefits and workforce strategies to improve employee experience, compliance and organisational resilience.
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