---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000706129-22-000009"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "HBNC"
cik: "0000706129"
company_name: "HORIZON BANCORP INC /IN/"
filed_at: "2022-01-26T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-27T15:36:33.529679+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.55
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# President Jim Neff retiring March 31; Horizon promotes three executives, CEO assumes president role

## Summary
- James D. Neff retiring as President of Horizon Bancorp and Horizon Bank effective March 31, 2022.
- Noe Najera promoted to EVP, overseeing consumer, mortgage, and warehouse lending, succeeding Neff.
- Lynn Kerber promoted to Chief Commercial Banking Officer; Dennis Kuhn becomes Regional President for SW Michigan.
- CEO Craig Dwight will serve as President temporarily; national search for permanent successor launched.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000706129-22-000009
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: HBNC
- cik: 0000706129
- company_name: HORIZON BANCORP INC /IN/
- filed_at: 2022-01-26T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.55
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/706129/000070612922000009/0000706129-22-000009-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/706129/000070612922000009/hbnc-20220126.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000706129-22-000009
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000706129-22-000009.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000706129-22-000009.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Noe S. Najera was appointed as Executive Vice President at HORIZON BANCORP INC /IN/.
  - Action: promoted
  - Role: Executive Vice President
  source text: Noe S. Najera, the current Senior Vice President of Mortgage and Retail Lending of the Company, will be promoted to Executive Vice President, responsible for consumer, mortgage, and mortgage–warehouse lending, as well as CRA and fair lending programs, effective as of April 1, 2022, succeeding Mr. Neff in leading these teams.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/706129/000070612922000009/0000706129-22-000009-index.htm
- Executive change
  Craig M. Dwight changed role as President at HORIZON BANCORP INC /IN/.
  - Action: assumed
  - Role: President
  source text: Craig M. Dwight, the Chairman and CEO of the Company and Horizon Bank, will assume the role of President upon Mr. Neff's retirement until a new President of the Company and Horizon Bank is appointed.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/706129/000070612922000009/0000706129-22-000009-index.htm
- Executive change
  Lynn M. Kerber changed role as Chief Commercial Banking Officer at HORIZON BANCORP INC /IN/.
  - Action: promoted
  - Role: Chief Commercial Banking Officer
  source text: Upon Mr. Kuhn's appointment, Lynn M. Kerber, the current Executive Vice President, Senior Commercial Credit Officer of the Company and Horizon Bank, will be promoted to Chief Commercial Banking Officer.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/706129/000070612922000009/0000706129-22-000009-index.htm
- Executive change
  James D. Neff retired as President at HORIZON BANCORP INC /IN/.
  - Action: retired
  - Role: President
  source text: On January 24, 2022, James D. Neff, the President of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Horizon Bank, notified the Company of his intention to retire from his positions effective as of March 31, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/706129/000070612922000009/0000706129-22-000009-index.htm
- Executive change
  Dennis J. Kuhn was appointed as Regional President for Southwest Michigan at HORIZON BANCORP INC /IN/.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Regional President for Southwest Michigan
  source text: In addition, Dennis J. Kuhn, the current Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Banking Officer of the Company and Horizon Bank, will be appointed as Horizon's Regional President for Southwest Michigan, effective as of April 1, 2022.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/706129/000070612922000009/0000706129-22-000009-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.