---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-23-272412"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "CIVB"
cik: "0000944745"
company_name: "CIVISTA BANCSHARES, INC."
filed_at: "2023-11-07T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-08T18:46:44.831725+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.45
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.45
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Civista Bancshares CCO Paul J. Stark to retire Dec 31; Michael Mulford named successor

## Summary
- Paul J. Stark will retire as SVP and Chief Credit Officer effective December 31, 2023, after 13 years at Civista.
- Michael D. Mulford joined on November 6, 2023 as SVP and will assume the Chief Credit Officer role upon Stark's retirement.
- Mulford brings 33 years of credit experience, previously serving as EVP/CCO at First Federal Bank of the Midwest ($3.5B assets).
- He later held the role of EVP, Chief Credit Administration Officer at Premier Bank ($7B assets) after a merger.
- CEO Dennis Shaffer praised Stark's contributions and expressed confidence in Mulford's expertise for continued growth.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-23-272412
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: CIVB
- cik: 0000944745
- company_name: CIVISTA BANCSHARES, INC.
- filed_at: 2023-11-07T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.45
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.45
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/944745/000119312523272412/0001193125-23-272412-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/944745/000119312523272412/d932378d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-23-272412
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-23-272412.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-23-272412.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Michael D. Mulford was appointed as Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer at CIVISTA BANCSHARES, INC..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer
  source text: Michael D. Mulford joined Civista as Senior Vice President of the Bank and will assume the position of Chief Credit Officer for the Bank upon Paul’s retirement.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/944745/000119312523272412/0001193125-23-272412-index.htm
- Executive change
  Paul J. Stark departed as Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer at CIVISTA BANCSHARES, INC..
  - Action: retire
  - Role: Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer
  source text: Paul J. Stark will retire as an employee and relinquish his positions as Senior Vice President of Civista and as Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of Civista’s banking subsidiary, Civista Bank
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/944745/000119312523272412/0001193125-23-272412-index.htm

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