Company: FRME
Filing Date: 2025-04-01
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0000712534-25-000077
Chunk: 10

Company: FIRST MERCHANTS CORP
Filing Date: 2025-04-01
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 10
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abash County. He is Treasurer of the Grow Wabash County, member of the Boards of Directors of the Wabash County Development Corporation, the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership and Agrinovus. Mr. Halderman is Chair of the Board’s Risk and Credit Policy Committee. |
| Mr. Halderman’s specific         
 experience and qualifications to 
 serve as a director              |     | Mr. Halderman has considerable experience and knowledge of the agricultural real estate marketplace throughout the Eastern Corn Belt, which includes the FMC market. Agricultural lending is an important segment of the Company’s business, and Mr. Halderman is the only FMC director who possesses special expertise in this field. His vast network of contacts within the agricultural community in Indiana and nationally benefits the Company. Mr. Halderman owns and operates three farm-related small businesses that are located in an important rural market for the Company.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |

6 First Merchants Corporation 2025 Proxy Statement

| Kevin D. Johnsonage 60                                                    Director since 2022 |     | Mr. Johnson is the President and Chief Executive Officer for the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation ("DEGC"), the city’s leading inclusive economic development driver. He has served as President and CEO since June 2018. Under Mr. Johnson’s leadership, the organization focuses on job creation, capital investment and small business growth for the City of Detroit. Access, inclusion and financial growth for all Detroiters form the foundation of all DEGC work. As President and CEO, Mr. Johnson spearheads DEGC’s economic development initiatives, including business attraction and retention, neighborhood small-business growth and international investment and corporate attraction of large enterprises to the Detroit region. 
 Most recently, Mr. Johnson was integral in bringing the $4.5 billion Fiat Chrysler/Stellantis investment to Detroit and, with it, thousands of Stellantis and supplier jobs.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
 Mr. Johnson has served in both public and private economic-development positions throughout the U.S., including roles in Arizona, Florida, North Carolina and Georgia. In his most previous role at Invest Atlanta, Johnson led the economic development program for the city, helping to create jobs and generating billions of dollars in new capital investment.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
 Mr. Johnson began his career over 30 years ago as the Assistant County Manager and Director of Economic Development for Caswell County (NC) Municipal Government. Throughout his career, he has held a variety of leadership positions including President of the Athens Area Chamber of