First Merchants (FRME) executive compensation, 2026 proxy

Mark K. Hardwick, Chief Executive Officer, was paid $2.4M in 2025, up 15% from $2.1M the year before. The CEO-to-median-employee pay ratio was 38:1, on median employee pay of $62,811.

Filed
April 3, 2026
Annual meeting
May 19, 2026
Pay year
2025
Named executives
5
CEO total pay
$2.4M+15% vs prior year
CEO to median employee
38:1median $62,811
CEO pay in equity
33%$787,290 in awards
CEO Target Bonus
$661,230SMICP target payout
CEO Stock Awards
$787,290Granted in August 2025
Total NEO Count
5Named executive officers

How Hardwick was paid

$2.4M in total for 2025, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table. Equity awards are valued at grant, not at what they turned out to be worth.

Salary34%Stock awards33%Non-equity incentive27%Pension and deferred comp0%All other compensation5%

Named executive officers

ExecutiveTotal
Mark K. HardwickChief Executive Officer$2,398,488
Michael J. StewartPresident$1,751,499
Michele M. KawieckiExecutive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer$1,369,650
John J. MartinExecutive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer$1,045,915
Joseph C. PetersonExecutive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer$983,176

What changed and why

  • $2.4MChief Executive Officer Mark K. Hardwick received total compensation of $2,398,488 for fiscal 2025, representing an increase from $2,079,268 in fiscal 2024.
  • $827KBase salary for the CEO was set at $826,538 for 2025 compared to $762,547 in the prior year.
  • $658KNon-equity incentive plan compensation payments increased to $657,924 for the CEO based on performance achievements under the SMICP.
  • $787KStock awards granted to the CEO under the LTEIP totaled $787,290 in 2025.
  • $119KAll other compensation for the CEO totaled $118,850, which included 401(k) contributions and dividend reinvestments.

About this page

Figures are automated and can be wrong; check the filing for the exact numbers. Totals follow SEC rules, which value stock and option awards at grant. Read the DEF 14A proxy statement for footnotes and the compensation committee's full reasoning.