Ullman will serve as an independent member of the company's board to fillthe existing vacancy in the class of directors whose term will expire in2005.

Ullman will be an independent director under the proposed New York StockExchange rules. Ullman, who will be a member of the Audit Committee ofthe board, will also satisfy the independence standards for audit committeemembers as well as being a financial expert, said Taubman officials.

The Taubman board voted unanimously to add Mr. Ullman to the board, bringingboard membership back to nine members.

The move was seen as a stopgap against a takeover attempt by Simon PropertyGroup of Indianapolis. With A. Alfred Taubman in prison for price fixing aschairman of Sotheby's Inc., Simon has launched a yearlong attempt to takeover the Bloomfield Hills company. Simon recently proposed four new boardmembers, including filling Taubman's vacant seat.

Ullman, who has retired from full-time corporate activity, has extensiveexperience, both domestically and internationally, in corporations,government and academia, said Taubman officials.

Over the past 15 years, he has led major businesses in Asia (Wharf HoldingsLtd.), in the United States (R.H. Macy & Co. Inc. and DFS Group Ltd.) andmost recently in Europe (LVMH Hennessy Louis Vuitton and De Beers LV).

He was recently appointed to the board of directors of Starbucks Coffee Co.Ullman also serves on the board of Kendall Jackson Wine Estates.was recently appointed to the board of directors of Starbucks Coffee Co.Ullman also serves on the board of Kendall Jackson Wine Estates.

Instant Insights /

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