Horizon Bancorp (NASDAQ: HBNC) appointed Nicholas J. Ritter and Charles W. Sulerzyski on August 18, 2026 as independent directors to the boards of Horizon Bancorp and its subsidiary Horizon Bank. Ritter, former Executive Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at WorldPay and former Chief Enterprise Security Officer at First Financial Bank, will serve on the Enterprise Risk Management and Operations and Cyber Security Committees.
Sulerzyski, retired President and CEO of Peoples Bancorp who oversaw growth of People’s Bank from $1.7 billion to $9.2 billion in assets, will serve on Horizon’s Enterprise Risk Management and Wealth Committees. According to Horizon, their experience in leadership, risk, operations, and governance is expected to support the company’s growth and shareholder value focus.
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind., Aug. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (NASDAQ GS: HBNC) Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (“Horizon” or the “Company”) announced the appointments on August 18, 2026 of Nicholas J. Ritter and Charles W. Sulerzyski to serve as independent directors on the Horizon Bancorp, Inc. Board and the Board of its wholly owned subsidiary, Horizon Bank.
Ritter is the retired Executive Vice President, Chief Information Security Officer of WorldPay, a global payments technology company which was headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. He joined WorldPay in 2024 and retired in 2026 after building the information security program post-divestiture from Fidelity National Information Systems (FIS) through its acquisition in 2025 by Global Payments. Prior to joining WorldPay, he was the Senior Vice President, Chief Enterprise Security Officer for First Financial Bank, Cincinnati from 2020 to 2024. Ritter earned his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
Ritter is assigned to the Enterprise Risk Management Committee and Operations and Cyber Security Committee.
Sulerzyski is the retired President and CEO of Peoples Bancorp, Inc., headquartered in Marietta, Ohio. He joined Peoples Bancorp, Inc. in 2011 and retired in 2024 after growing the holding company’s wholly owned subsidiary, People’s Bank, from $1.7 billion to $9.2 billion through acquisitions and organic growth. During his tenure with Peoples Bancorp, Inc., he served on the holding company’s board of directors. Sulerzyski also served as the President, Great Lakes Region, of KeyBank, N.A. from 2005 to 2010 and as the National Chair of the Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council, in 2024 after serving as the Chair of the Cleveland District from 2021to 2023. Sulerzyski earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from New York University and his Master of Business Administration from Fordham University Graduate School of Business, also in New York City.
Sulerzyski is assigned to the Enterprise Risk Management and Wealth Committees.
“We are pleased to welcome Nicholas and Charles as our newest independent directors. Their collective expertise spans P&L leadership, customer experience, audit, compliance, and strategic oversight, bringing valuable perspectives that will help guide Horizon’s continued growth and support our commitment to delivering value for shareholders and the communities we serve,” said Thomas M. Prame, Chairman and President of Horizon Bank and Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company.
About Horizon Bancorp, Inc.
Horizon Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: HBNC) is the $6.6 billion-asset commercial bank holding company for Horizon Bank, which serves customers across diverse and economically attractive Midwestern markets through convenient digital and virtual tools, as well as its Indiana and Michigan branches. Horizon's retail offerings include prime residential and other secured consumer lending to in-market customers, as well as a range of personal banking and wealth management solutions. Horizon also provides a comprehensive array of in-market business banking and treasury management services, as well as equipment financing solutions for customers regionally and nationally, with commercial lending representing over half of total loans. More information on Horizon, headquartered in Northwest Indiana's Michigan City, is available at horizonbank.com and investor.horizonbank.com.
Contact: Thomas Prame Chief Executive Officer and President Phone: (219) 814-5983
FAQ
What board changes did Horizon Bancorp (HBNC) announce on August 18, 2026?
Horizon Bancorp announced the appointment of Nicholas J. Ritter and Charles W. Sulerzyski as independent directors on August 18, 2026. According to Horizon Bancorp, both join the boards of Horizon Bancorp and its wholly owned banking subsidiary, Horizon Bank.
Who is Nicholas J. Ritter, newly appointed independent director at Horizon Bancorp (HBNC)?
Nicholas J. Ritter is the retired Executive Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer of WorldPay. According to Horizon Bancorp, he previously led enterprise security at First Financial Bank and holds a computer science degree from the University of Kentucky, bringing significant cyber and risk expertise.
What experience does Charles W. Sulerzyski bring to the Horizon Bancorp (HBNC) board?
Charles W. Sulerzyski is the retired President and CEO of Peoples Bancorp. According to Horizon Bancorp, he helped grow People’s Bank assets from $1.7 billion to $9.2 billion and has prior leadership roles at KeyBank and advisory roles within the Federal Reserve System.
Which board committees will Nicholas Ritter serve on at Horizon Bancorp (HBNC)?
Nicholas Ritter will serve on Horizon Bancorp’s Enterprise Risk Management Committee and Operations and Cyber Security Committee. According to Horizon Bancorp, his background in information security and enterprise risk management aligns with these committee responsibilities and supports the company’s governance of operational and cyber risks.
Which committees will Charles Sulerzyski join on the Horizon Bancorp (HBNC) board?
Charles Sulerzyski will serve on the Enterprise Risk Management and Wealth Committees at Horizon Bancorp. According to Horizon Bancorp, his experience growing a regional bank and overseeing wealth-related activities is expected to contribute to oversight of risk and wealth management strategy.
How might the new independent directors impact Horizon Bancorp (HBNC) and its shareholders?
The appointments add banking, acquisition, and cybersecurity expertise to the board. According to Horizon Bancorp, Ritter and Sulerzyski’s leadership and oversight experience are expected to support Horizon’s growth strategy and its commitment to delivering value for shareholders and communities.
