Indiana-based Horizon Bancorp reveals executive leadership changes

Michigan City, Ind.-based Horizon Bancorp Inc. revealed changes to its senior leadership structure, including the retirement of James Neff as president of the company and subsidiary Horizon Bank on March 31.

Upon Neff's retirement, Craig Dwight, the chairman and CEO of Horizon Bancorp and Horizon Bank, will be president until a new president is appointed. Horizon Bancorp plans to retain an executive search firm to conduct a search for a permanent successor to Neff, according to a Jan. 26 news release.

Horizon Bancorp also made several executive leadership promotions and appointments for consumer and commercial banking, effective April 1.

Noe Najera will be promoted to executive vice president, responsible for consumer, mortgage and mortgage-warehouse lending, as well as Community Reinvestment Act and fair lending programs. Najera joined the company in 2016 and has worked as senior vice president for consumer lending and CRA/fair lending.

Additionally, Executive Vice President Lynn Kerber will become chief commercial banking officer upon the appointment of Dennis Kuhn as regional president for southwest Michigan.

Kerber became part of Horizon Bancorp in 2018 and has served as executive vice president and senior commercial credit officer since January 2021. Kuhn joined the company in 2010 to establish its Kalamazoo, Mich., office and has served as executive vice president and chief commercial banking officer since 2017.