8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

______________

FORM 8-K

______________

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) April 8, 2014

______________

Lakeland Financial Corporation

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

______________

Indiana	0-11487	35-1559596
(State or other jurisdiction	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer
Of incorporation)		Identification No.)

202 East Center Street, P.O. Box 1387, Warsaw, Indiana 46581-1387

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(574) 267-6144

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[  ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

[  ]  Solicitation material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR  240.14d-2(b)

[  ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)

Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(c)

On April 8, 2014, Lakeland Financial Corporation (the “Company”) announced that David M. Findlay, age 52, assumed the role of the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Lake City Bank (the “Bank”).  Mr. Findlay has been the President and Chief Financial Officer since 2010 and has been the Chief Financial Officer since joining the Company in 2000.  In compensation for his service, Mr. Findlay will receive an annual salary of $430,000 and shall be entitled to participate in all compensation and benefit plans available to the executive officers of the Company and the Bank pursuant to the terms of such plans.  As previously announced, Michael L. Kubacki resigned as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank at the 2014 annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company and assumed the role of Executive Chairman.

The press release relating to Mr. Findlay’s appointment issued on April 8, 2014 is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1

Item 5.07.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

On April 8, 2014 the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders was held. At the meeting, the stockholders elected Blake W. Augsburger, Robert E. Bartels, Jr., Thomas A. Hiatt, Michael L. Kubacki, Charles E. Niemier, Steven D. Ross, Brian J. Smith, Bradley J. Toothaker, Ronald D. Truex and M. Scott Welch each with terms expiring in 2015.  Continuing as directors until 2015 are Daniel F. Evans, Jr., David M. Findlay and Emily E. Pichon.  Additionally, the Company’s stockholders ratified the advisory vote on executive compensation and ratified the selection of Crowe Horwath LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2014.

The final results of voting on each of the matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the annual meeting are as follows:

Election of Directors:
				Broker
	For	Against	Abstain	Non-votes
Blake W. Augsburger	12,404,192	40,252	14,870	1,914,415
Robert E. Bartels, Jr.	12,341,951	103,600	13,863	1,914,415
Thomas A. Hiatt	12,369,074	76,528	13,812	1,914,415
Michael L. Kubacki	12,328,874	116,678	13,863	1,914,415
Charles E. Niemier	12,314,738	130,864	13,812	1,914,415
Steven D. Ross	12,335,562	109,989	13,863	1,914,415
Brian J. Smith	12,381,267	62,817	15,330	1,914,414
Bradley J. Toothaker	12,406,369	35,712	17,332	1,914,415
Ronald D. Truex	12,373,873	71,247	14,293	1,914,416
M. Scott Welch	12,329,185	115,765	14,464	1,914,415

Ratification of Advisory Proposal on Executive Compensation:
				Broker
	For	Against	Abstain	Non-votes
	11,918,926	455,993	84,493	1,914,417
Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm:
				Broker
	For	Against	Abstain	Non-votes
Crowe Horwath LLP	14,192,310	157,664	23,854	0

Item 9.01.   Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.  The following exhibits are filed herewith:

99.1 Press Release issued by Lakeland Financial Corporation and Lake City Bank on April 8, 2014.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORPORATION

Dated:  April 9, 2014                                                                                                                                                                                                                        By:  /s/David M. Findlay

                                                                                                                                                       David M. Findlay

                                                                                                                                                       President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                                                                                                                                                                      Contact:                      Mary Horan

                                                                                                                                                                           Vice President

                                                                                                                                                                            Director of Marketing

                                                                                                                                                                            and Public Relations

                                                                                                                                                                            574 371-9280 office

                                                                                                                                                                            574 377-9150 mobile

                                                                                                                                                                            mary.horan@lakecitybank.com

Findlay Named Chief Executive Officer

Warsaw, Indiana (April 8, 2014) –  Lakeland Financial Corporation (Nasdaq Global Select/LKFN) and Lake City Bank today announced that David M. Findlay has assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer.  Findlay, age 52, was previously President and Chief Financial Officer.

“Since joining the company in 2000, David has been a tremendous leader and partner as we have significantly grown in our Indiana communities.  At Lake City Bank, we believe that our culture is an essential component of our success, and our board of directors is looking forward to the future with David in this role as he is a great steward of our culture,” commented Michael L. Kubacki, Chairman of the Board.  As previously announced, Kubacki will continue in his role as Executive Chairman until the April 2016 annual meeting of shareholders.

Findlay commented, “I am honored to assume this leadership role. Since Lake City Bank was founded 142 years ago, we’ve established a consistent reputation for community commitment and support that goes well beyond traditional banking services.  We believe in the values that define a community bank and will continue to adhere to them, while at the same time staying focused on the long term development of value for our shareholders.  Our entire team looks forward to our continued growth. ”

 “We’ve had an outstanding leader in Mike Kubacki over the past 16 years and we are well positioned to continue the strong history of client service and shareholder performance that we developed during Mike’s tenure,” concluded Findlay.

As previously announced, Lisa M. O’Neill will join the company as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer on April 24, 2014.

Lake City Bank, a $3.2 billion bank headquartered in Warsaw, Indiana, is the fourth largest bank in the state, and the largest bank 100% invested in Indiana. Lake City Bank operates 46 branch offices in northern and central Indiana, delivering technology-driven solutions in a client-centric way to individuals and businesses. The bank is the single bank subsidiary of Lakeland Financial Corporation (Nasdaq Global Select/LKFN). For more information visit www.lakecitybank.com.

This document contains, and future oral and written statements of the Company and its management may contain, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business of the Company. Forward-looking statements, which may be based upon beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the Company’s management and on information currently available to management, are generally identifiable by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should” or other similar expressions. Additionally, all statements in this document, including forward-looking statements, speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any statement in light of new information or future events.  Additional information concerning the Company and its business, including factors that could materially affect the Company’s financial results, is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.