Biography

Mark K. Hardwick currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of First Merchants Corporation and First Merchants Bank.

Mark joined First Merchants in November of 1997 as corporate controller and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in April of 2002. In June of 2007, Hardwick also assumed all leadership responsibilities related to operations, technology, and risk management for the corporation. In 2016, Mark’s title expanded to include Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the leadership responsibilities for finance, operations, technology, risk, legal, and facilities for the corporation. In 2021, Mark was promoted to Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining First Merchants Corporation, Mark served as a senior accountant with BKD, LLP in Indianapolis.

Mark is a graduate of Ball State University with a master’s in business administration and bachelor’s degree in accounting. He is also a certified public accountant and a graduate of the Stonier School of Banking.

Mark is a trustee for Ball State University, serving as the chair for the Audit Committee. Mark is also a member of Next Muncie. Mark was inducted into the Ball State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. He was also the recipient of the Indianapolis Business Journal’s “CFO of the Year” in 2012.

Mark and his wife, Cathy, live in Carmel and have two children, Halie and Bryce.