Director since 2021 age 55 Mr. Hardwick currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of First Merchants Corporation and First Merchants Bank. He joined First Merchants in November 1997 as Corporate Controller and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in April of 2002. In June of 2007, Mr. Hardwick also assumed all leadership responsibilities related to operations, technology, and risk management for the Company. In 2016, Mr. Hardwick's title expanded to include Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the leadership responsibilities for finance, operations, technology, risk, legal, and facilities for the Company. In 2021, he was promoted to Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining First Merchants Corporation, Mr. Hardwick served as a senior accountant with BKD, LLP in Indianapolis. Mr. Hardwick is a trustee for Ball State University, serving as the Chair for the Audit Committee. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the George and Francis Ball Foundation. He is also a member of Next Muncie. He was inducted into the Ball State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. He was also the recipient of the I ndianapolis Business Journal s CFO of the Year in 2012 and was named one of Indiana s 250 Most Influential Business Leaders in 2023 and 2024. Mr. Hardwick s specific experience and qualifications to serve as a director As the Company's Chief Executive Officer, a long-tenured officer of the Bank and a Certified Public Accountant, Mr. Hardwick brings an array of experience and talent to the Board. His extensive community involvement in Muncie, Indiana, the Company's headquarters, is also an asset to the Company.