| Myron E. Ullman | |
| Birth Name: | Myron Edward Ullman III |
| Birth Date: | 26 November 1946 |
| Birth Place: | Youngstown, Ohio, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Colorado, U.S. |
| Alma Mater: | University of Cincinnati |
| Occupation: | Businessman |
| Children: | 6 |
Myron Edward "Mike" Ullman III (November 26, 1946 – August 6, 2024) was an American businessman. During his career, he led Macy's and was the chairman and CEO of J. C. Penney.[1] [2] Ullman served as Penney's CEO twice: first from December 2004 through October 2011, when he was succeeded by Ron Johnson, and then again after Johnson's departure, from April 2013 through July 2015 when Ullman stepped down.[3] [4]
Born in Youngstown, Ohio, on November 26, 1946,[5] Ullman had six siblings, and his parents were residents of Canfield, Ohio, where he grew up.[6] [7] He attended the University of Cincinnati and graduated in 1969; later that year, he married Cathy Emons, with whom he would go on to have six children.[6] [8]
Ullman began his career at IBM and went on to work at the University of Cincinnati as its vice president for business affairs.[6] In the 1980s, he worked for Federated Department Stores and Hong Kong's Wharf Holdings.[6]
Ullman served as a White House Fellow in the Office of the United States Trade Representative in 1981-82.
Ullman joined Macy's in 1988 and was its CEO from 1992 to 1995. Thereafter, he spent a stint at DFS Group, during which it was acquired by LVMH.[6] He then began his stints at J. C. Penney, during which he sought to differentiate it from its competition by embracing higher-end brands.[6]
On June 26, 2018, Ullman succeeded Howard Schultz as Chairman of Starbucks Corporation.[9] He held that position until 2021.[6]
Ullman had a neurological disorder which gradually limited his mobility.[6] He adapted to this by often using a Segway.[6]
Ullman died on August 6, 2024, at the age of 77, from complications of cancer and Alzheimer's disease.[6] Sources differed on whether he died at his home in Montrose, Colorado,[10] or a hospice in Grand Junction, Colorado.[6]