Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL) today announced the appointment of Myron E. (Mike) Ullman, to the Company's Board of Directors. His appointment brings the number of Polo Ralph Lauren Board of Directors to eleven.
#'I want to welcome Mike Ullman to the Board of Directors. Mike is a seasoned retail executive with extensive experience in the international luxury business. We look forward to benefiting from his experience and his counsel on our board as we continue to expand our brand globally,'' said Ralph Lauren, chairman and chief executive officer.
Over the last 15 years, Mr. Ullman has led major corporations in Asia, the United States and, most recently, in Europe in the capacity of Directeur General, Group Managing Director of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton where he led its five major business groups. Mr. Ullman retired from LVMH in late 2001.
Mr. Ullman's career in the retail sector spans more than two decades. His relationship with LVMH began seven years ago when the Paris-based group acquired a majority interest in the DFS Group, of which Mr. Ullman had been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since 1995. After leading the restructure and turnaround of the DFS Group, Mr. Ullman became President of the Selective Retail Group of LVMH in 1999, leading the global expansion of the Sephora beauty specialty store chain and the development and introduction of new specialty store concepts and e-commerce initiatives, including Sephora.com, and eLuxury.com.
Mr. Ullman has held several executive positions with major domestic retailers. Mr. Ullman served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of R.H. Macy & Co., Inc. from 1992 to 1995 after having served as Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President since 1989. Mr. Ullman was Executive Vice President for Sanger Harris, a division of Federated Department Stores from 1982 to 1986. He also is a former Vice Chairman of the National Retail Federation.
In addition, from 1986 until 1988, Mr. Ullman served as Group Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Wharf Holdings Limited, one of the largest property, hotel, retail, computer services and transport groups in Hong Kong.
Mr. Ullman was selected by President Reagan as a White House Fellow where he served as Executive Assistant to U.S. Trade Representative William Brock from 1981 to 1982.
Mr. Ullman is currently a director of Starbucks Coffee Company, Taubman Centers and DFS Group Limited. He serves as Chairman of Mercy Ships International, a global charity, and Chairman of the UCSF Medical Center Executive Council in San Francisco.