8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 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): October 28, 2015

SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland	000-19065	52-1532952
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

17801 Georgia Avenue, Olney, Maryland 20832

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (301) 774-6400

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)

¨ Soliciting 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.

Mona Abutaleb and James J. Maiwurm were elected directors of Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) at the regular meeting of the board of directors on October 28, 2015.  Beginning January 1, 2016, Ms. Abutaleb will serve on the Audit Committee and the Risk Committee and Mr. Maiwurm will serve on the Audit Committee and the Compensation Committee.

Ms. Abutaleb, age 53, is the president and CEO of mindSHIFT Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ricoh Americas Corporation.

Mr. Maiwurm, age 66, is chairman emeritus and senior counsel for Squire Patton Boggs (US), LLP.

Also on October 28, 2015, director Mei Xu resigned from her position as director of the Company, effective immediately. Ms. Xu’s resignation was not as a result of any dispute or disagreement with the Company.

The Company issued a news release announcing the appointment of Ms. Abutaleb and Mr. Maiwurm and the resignation of Ms. Xu on October 29, 2015. A copy of the news release is included as Exhibit 99.1 to this report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

Exhibits

Number Description

99.1 Press Release dated October 29, 2015

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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.

	SANDY SPRING BANCORP, INC.
	(Registrant)
Date: October 29, 2015	By:	/s/ Ronald E. Kuykendall
		Ronald E. Kuykendall
		General Counsel and Secretary

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

    News release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SANDY SPRING BANCORP ELECTS

MONA ABUTALEB AND JAMES J. MAIWURM TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OLNEY, Md., October 29, 2015 -- Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc., (Nasdaq: SASR) today announced the election of Mona Abutaleb, President and CEO of mindSHIFT Technologies, Inc., and James J. Maiwurm, Chairman Emeritus and Senior Counsel for Squire Patton Boggs (US), LLP to its board of directors on October 28, 2015.

“We are thrilled to have Mona and Jim join our board,” said Chairman Robert L. Orndorff. “Jim has a wealth of business leadership experience to his credit, and he will bring his knowledge and strategic insight to our discussions. Mona is a leader in delivering technology services to businesses, which aligns with the critical role of technology in banking today.”

Mona Abutaleb, 53, joined mindSHIFT Technologies in 2006 and utilized her unique blend of skills and expertise in operations, engineering, IT and customer service to drive mindSHIFT's rapid growth. She was named CEO in 2014, and she led the company in its acquisition by Ricoh Americas Holdings. Today, mindSHIFT is one of the largest IT outsourcing and cloud services providers, serving small and mid-size businesses. As a leading managed services industry executive, Ms. Abutaleb was named to the MSPmentor 250 list as one of the most influential executives shaping the industry in 2014 and 2015.

James J. Maiwurm, 66, has had a distinguished career as an attorney and business leader. He moved into firm leadership with Squire Patton Boggs, a top-25 global legal practice, in 2003, and he went on to chair the global board and serve as global CEO for Squire Patton Boggs LLP (AU, UK, and US) from 2009 to 2014. He has served in both management and board positions for publicly traded, privately held, and nonprofit organizations. He was named one of the 10 most innovative law firm managing partners in 2012 by Law360. Mr. Maiwurm’s law practice involves the representation of a diverse range of businesses in private equity infusions, public offerings, and sophisticated domestic and international acquisitions, dispositions, financings and joint ventures.

”We are very pleased to add the substantial skills and qualifications that Mona and Jim bring to our organization, said Daniel J. Schrider, President and CEO of Sandy Spring Bank. “Both of them have lived and worked in our market for many years, and they understand the importance of a strong, locally-based community bank.”

Ms. Abutaleb and Mr. Maiwurm were elected at the regular meeting of the board yesterday. Mr. Maiwurm was appointed to the Audit and Compensation Committees, and Ms. Abutaleb was appointed to the Audit and Risk Committees. Their committee service will begin on January 1, 2016.

The Company also announced that the board received the resignation of director Mei Xu yesterday, effective immediately. Ms. Xu resigned her position for personal reasons. “We are grateful to Mei for serving on our board for the past three years, and we wish her well,” added Schrider

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ABOUT SANDY SPRING BANCORP/SANDY SPRING BANK

Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc., headquartered in Olney, Maryland, is the holding company for Sandy Spring Bank. Independent and community-oriented, Sandy Spring Bank offers a broad range of commercial banking, retail banking, mortgage and trust services throughout central Maryland, Northern Virginia, and the greater Washington, D.C. market. Through its subsidiaries, Sandy Spring Insurance Corporation and West Financial Services, Inc., Sandy Spring Bank also offers a comprehensive menu of insurance and wealth management services. With $4.6 billion in assets, the bank operates 44 community offices and six financial centers across the region. Visit www.sandyspringbank.com for more information.

For additional information or questions, please contact:

Daniel J. Schrider, President & Chief Executive Officer

DSchrider@sandyspringbank.com, or

Philip J. Mantua, Executive V.P. & Chief Financial Officer

PMantua@sandyspringbank.com

Sandy Spring Bancorp, Inc.

17801 Georgia Avenue

Olney, Maryland 20832

800-399-5919

Web site: www.sandyspringbank.com