---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000712534-26-000067"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "FRME"
cik: "0000712534"
company_name: "FIRST MERCHANTS CORP"
filed_at: "2026-10-01T12:12:50+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-10-12T14:16:15.540595+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.5
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# First Merchants CEO Mark Hardwick to retire end of 2026; Mike Stewart to become President and CEO Jan 1, 2027

## Summary
- CEO Mark Hardwick will retire at the end of 2026 after 29 years with the bank; retirement effective January 1, 2027.
- Mike Stewart, current First Merchants Bank President with more than 18 years at the bank, becomes President and CEO effective January 1, 2027.
- Board Chair Jean Wojtowicz credited Hardwick with 18 acquisitions during his tenure and said Stewart is 'ready to take First Merchants to the next level.'
- No additional plan, contract or award was granted to Stewart; no family relationships or Item 404(a) related-party transactions disclosed.
- Hardwick cited a 133-year-old institution with nearly 300,000 clients, 126 locations in 3 states and 2,200 employees.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000712534-26-000067
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: FRME
- cik: 0000712534
- company_name: FIRST MERCHANTS CORP
- filed_at: 2026-10-01T12:12:50+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.5
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.5
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/712534/000071253426000067/0000712534-26-000067-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/712534/000071253426000067/frme-20261001.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000712534-26-000067
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000712534-26-000067.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000712534-26-000067.txt

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