Taubman Centers Inc. named Cia Buckley Marakovits to its board and Myron Ullman III to the newly created position of lead director, with immediate effect.

Buckley Marakovits fills the board vacancy created by William Parfet's Sept. 27 departure, and her appointment brings the number of Taubman directors to nine, seven of whom are independent.

Ullman rejoined Taubman's board in April and was named chairman of the nominating and corporate governance committee in September. His appointment as lead director is aimed at enhancing board oversight and governance, the company said.

Buckley Marakovits is chief investment officer, partner, managing director and an investment committee member at Dune Real Estate Partners, among other affiliations.

Ullman's additional affiliations include serving as a board member and lead director at Starbucks Corp. He was also former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.