Horizon Bancorp, Inc. filed a Form 8-K on August 17, 2026, disclosing that its Board of Directors increased in size from 11 to 13 members and elected Nicholas J. Ritter and Charles W. Sulerzyski as independent directors to the Class of 2027.

Key Highlights

  • Board expansion: The Board increased from 11 members to 13 members by adding two seats to the Class of 2027, effective August 17, 2026.
  • New director - Ritter: Nicholas J. Ritter, age 49, is the retired Executive Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer of WorldPay, a global payments technology company.
  • New director - Sulerzyski: Charles W. Sulerzyski, age 69, is the retired President and CEO of Peoples Bancorp, Inc., where he grew the subsidiary bank from $1.7 billion to $9.2 billion in assets.
  • Independence determination: The Board determined both directors qualify as "independent" under the Company's Corporate Governance guidelines, Nasdaq Exchange requirements, and applicable SEC rules.
  • Committee assignments: Ritter was assigned to the Enterprise Risk Management Committee and Operations and Cyber Security Committee; Sulerzyski was assigned to the Enterprise Risk Management and Wealth Committees.
  • Compensation: Both new directors will receive the same compensation as other non-employee directors, as disclosed in the Company's most recent definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on March 20, 2026.

Horizon Bancorp Board Seats Filled by Former Banking and Cybersecurity Executives

According to the filing, Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:HBNC), a $6.6 billion asset commercial bank holding company as of June 30, 2026, expanded its Board of Directors on August 17, 2026, by adding two new Class of 2027 seats. The Board elected Nicholas J. Ritter and Charles W. Sulerzyski to fill those seats. Both were simultaneously appointed to the Board of Directors of Horizon Bank, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary.

The filing describes Ritter as having joined WorldPay in 2024 and retiring in 2026 after building its information security program following a divestiture from Fidelity National Information Systems and a subsequent acquisition by Global Payments in 2025. Prior to WorldPay, Ritter served as Senior Vice President and Chief Enterprise Security Officer for First Financial Bank, Cincinnati, from 2020 to 2024. He holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the University of Kentucky.

Sulerzyski, according to the filing, joined Peoples Bancorp, Inc. in 2011 and retired in 2024. He also served as President of the Great Lakes Region of KeyBank, N.A. from 2005 to 2010, and as National Chair of the Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council in 2024 after serving as Chair of the Cleveland District from 2021 to 2023. He holds a bachelor's degree in Economics from New York University and a Master of Business Administration from Fordham University Graduate School of Business. The filing states there are no arrangements or understandings between either director and any other person pursuant to which they were selected, and no transactions requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

What Was Disclosed

Horizon Bancorp reported the expansion of its Board from 11 to 13 members and the election of two independent directors, Nicholas J. Ritter and Charles W. Sulerzyski, each serving an initial term through the 2027 annual meeting of shareholders.