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Employment Agreement - Interpublic Group of Companies Inc. and Sean F. Orr

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                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                              --------------------

     AGREEMENT made as of April 27, 1999 by and between THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF
COMPANIES, INC., a corporation of the State of Delaware (hereinafter referred to
as "Interpublic"), and SEAN F. ORR (hereinafter referred to as "Executive").

     In consideration of the mutual promises set forth herein the parties hereto
agree as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                                    ---------

                               Term of Employment
                               ------------------

     1.01  Upon the terms  and  subject  to the  conditions  set  forth  herein,
Interpublic  will employ  Executive for the period  beginning June 1, 1999 or an
agreed-upon  earlier date and ending on May 31, 2004, or a date representing the
last day of the five year period  commencing on the agreed upon earlier date, or
on such earlier date as the employment of Executive shall terminate  pursuant to
Article VII or Article  VIII.  The period  during  which  Executive  is employed
hereunder  is referred  to herein as the "term of  employment".  Executive  will
serve Interpublic during the term of employment.

                                   ARTICLE II
                                   ----------

                                     Duties
                                     ------

     2.01 During the term of employment Executive will:

          (i) Use his best efforts to promote the interests of  Interpublic  and
     devote his full time and efforts to its business and affairs;

          (ii) Perform such duties as  Interpublic  may from time to time assign
     to him; and

          (iii) Serve as Executive Vice President,  Chief Financial  Officer and
     in any such offices of Interpublic or its subsidiaries as he may be elected
     or appointed to.

                                   ARTICLE III
                                   -----------

                                  Compensation
                                  ------------

     3.01 Interpublic will compensate  Executive for the duties performed by him
hereunder,  including  all  services  rendered  as an  officer  or  director  of
Interpublic, by payment of a salary at the rate of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
($500,000) per annum,  payable in equal installments,  which Interpublic may pay
at either monthly or semi-monthly intervals and Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000)
in the form of an Executive Special Benefits Agreement ("ESBA").

     3.02  Interpublic  may  at any  time  increase  the  compensation  paid  to
Executive  hereunder if Interpublic in its discretion shall deem it advisable so
to do in order to compensate him fairly for services rendered to Interpublic.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                                   ----------

                                     Bonuses
                                    --------

     4.01  Executive  will  be  eligible   during  the  term  of  employment  to
participate  in  the  Management  Incentive   Compensation  Plan  ("MICP"),   in
accordance  with the terms and conditions of the Plan  established  from time to
time.  Executive  shall be  eligible  to receive  MICP  awards up to one hundred
(100%) of his base salary,  but the actual award, if any, shall be determined by
Interpublic and shall be based on profits of Interpublic, Executive's individual
performance and management discretion. For calendar year 1999, Executive will be
considered as employed for the full year for MICP determining purposes.

                                    ARTICLE V
                                    ---------

               Long-Term Performance Incentive Plan; Stock Options
               ---------------------------------------------------

     5.01 As soon as  administratively  feasible  after full  execution  of this
Agreement,  Interpublic  will use its  best  efforts  to have  the  Compensation
Committee of its Board of Directors  ("Committee")  grant Executive an award for
the 1997-2002 performance period under Interpublic's  Performance Incentive Plan
("LTPIP")  (pro-rated to the date of this  Agreement)  equal to Two Thousand One
Hundred (2,100)  performance units tied to the cumulative compound profit growth
of Interpublic, and options under Interpublic's Stock Incentive Plan to purchase
Eight Thousand Four Hundred (8,400) shares of Interpublic common stock which may
not be exercised  in any part prior to the end of the  performance  period,  and
thereafter shall be exercisable in whole or in part.

     5.02 As soon as  administratively  feasible  after full  execution  of this
Agreement,  Interpublic  will use its best efforts to have the  Committee  grant
Executive  an award for the  1999-2002  performance  period under LTPIP equal to
Five Thousand (5,000)  performance units tied to the cumulative  compound profit
growth of the Interpublic,  and options under Interpublic's Stock Incentive Plan
to purchase  Twenty Thousand  (20,000) shares of Interpublic  Common stock which
may not be exercised in any part prior to the end of the performance period, and
thereafter shall be exercisable in whole or in part.

     5.03 As soon as  administratively  feasible  after full  execution  of this
Agreement,  Interpublic  will use its best efforts to have the  Committee  grant
Executive  options to purchase an aggregate of Sixty Thousand (60,000) shares of
Interpublic Common Stock, which may not be exercised in any part for a period of
three (3) years from the date of the grant and  thereafter  shall be exercisable
in three  annual  installments,  the first of which may be  exercised  for forty
percent  (40%) of the  number of shares  covered  by the  option on or after the
third anniversary of the date of the grant and the second and third of which may
be  exercised  on or after  each  successive  anniversary  date of the grant for
thirty percent (30%) of the number of shares covered by the option.

     5.04 As soon as  administratively  feasible  after full  execution  of this
Agreement,  Interpublic will use its best efforts to have the Committee grant to
Executive, an award of Twenty Thousand (20,000) restricted shares of Interpublic
common stock which shares shall have a restriction period ending five years from
the date of grant.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                                   ----------

                            Other Employment Benefits
                            -------------------------

     6.01  Executive  shall be  elected  a member of  Interpublic's  Development
Council,  which shall  entitle him to an  automobile  allowance  of Ten Thousand
<PAGE>
Dollars ($10,000) per annum and a financial  planning allowance of Five Thousand
Dollars ($5,000) per annum.

     6.02  Executive  shall be eligible to  participate  in such other  employee
benefits as are available from time to time to other  Interpublic key management
executives in accordance with the then-current terms and conditions  established
by  Interpublic  for  eligibility  and  employee   contributions   required  for
participation in such benefits opportunities.

                                   ARTICLE VII
                                   -----------

                                   Termination
                                  ------------

     7.01 Interpublic may terminate the employment of Executive  hereunder:

          (i) By giving  Executive  notice in writing at any time  specifying  a
termination  date not less than twelve (12) months  after the date on which such
notice is given, in which event his employment  hereunder shall terminate on the
date specified in such notice; or;

          (ii) By  giving  him  notice  in  writing  at any  time  specifying  a
termination  date less than  twelve  (12)  months  after the date on which  such
notice is given.  In this event his employment  hereunder shall terminate on the
date  specified in such notice and  Interpublic  shall  thereafter pay him a sum
equal to the amount by which twelve (12) months  salary at his then current rate
exceeds the salary paid to him for the period from the date on which such notice
is given to the termination date specified in such notice. Such payment shall be
made during the period  immediately  following the termination date specified in
such notice,  in successive  equal monthly  installments  each of which shall be
equal  to one  month's  salary  at the  rate  in  effect  at the  time  of  such
termination,  with any  residue in respect of a period less than one month to be
paid together with the last installment.

          (iii) However, with respect to any payments of salary due to Executive
after notice of termination  shall have been given  pursuant to Subsection  7.01
(i), should Executive  commence other employment during the period when payments
thereunder are being made, said payments shall cease forthwith.  Moreover,  with
respect to any payment of salary or salary equivalents to Executive after notice
of termination  shall have been given pursuant to Subsection  7.01 (ii),  should
Executive  commence  other  employment  prior to the last payment due under that
subsection, no further payments shall be made to Executive.

     7.02  Executive  may at any time give  notice  in  writing  to  Interpublic
specifying a termination date not less than twelve (12) months after the date on
which  such  notice is given,  in which  event his  employment  hereunder  shall
terminate on the date specified in such notice.

     7.03 If the  employment of Executive  hereunder is  terminated  pursuant to
this Article VII by either Interpublic or Executive, Executive shall continue to
perform his duties  hereunder until the termination date at his salary in effect
on the date that notice of such termination is given.

     7.04  Notwithstanding  anything  else in this  Agreement,  Interpublic  may
terminate the employment of Executive  hereunder for Cause. For purposes of this
Agreement, "Cause" means any of the following:

          (a) any material breach by Executive of any material provision of this
Agreement  (including  without  limitation  Sections  8.01 and 8.02 hereof) upon
written notice of same by the  Interpublic  describing in reasonable  detail the
breach asserted and stating that it constitutes  notice pursuant to this Section

     7.04 (a),  which  breach,  if  capable of being  cured,  has not been cured
within 30 days after such notice (it being  understood  and agreed that a breach
of Section  8.01 or 8.02 hereof and a breach of  Executive's  duty to devote his
full business time to the affairs of Interpublic,  among others, shall be deemed
not capable of being cured);
<PAGE>
          (b)  Executive's  absence  from  duty for a period  of time  exceeding
fifteen  (15)  consecutive  business  days  or  twenty  (20)  out  of  any  (30)
consecutive  business  days  (other  than  account of  permitted  vacation or as
permitted  for  illness,  disability  or  authorized  leave in  accordance  with
Interpublic's  policies  and  procedures)  without  the  consent of the Board of

Directors;

          (c) Executive having commenced  employment with another employer prior
to the effective date of Executive's  voluntary resignation from employment with
Interpublic  under  Section  7.02  hereof  without  the  consent of the Board of
Directors of Interpublic;

          (d)  misappropriation by Executive of funds or property of Interpublic
or any  attempt  by  Executive  to secure  any  personal  profit  related to the
business of  Interpublic  (other than as  permitted by this  Agreement)  and not
fairly disclosed to and approved by the Board of Directors;

          (e)  fraud,  dishonesty,   disloyalty,  gross  negligence  or  willful
misconduct  on the part of  Executive  in the  performance  of his  duties as an
employee of Interpublic; or

          (f) a felony  conviction of Executive.  Upon a termination  for Cause,
Interpublic  shall pay  Executive  his salary and  benefits  through the date of
termination of employment; and Executive shall receive no severance hereunder.

     7.05 If Executive dies before May 31, 2004 or the end of the five year term
of this Agreement,  his employment  hereunder shall terminate on the date of his
death.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                  ------------

                                    Covenants
                                    ---------

     8.01 While  Executive  is employed  hereunder by  Interpublic  he shall not
without the prior written consent of Interpublic engage, directly or indirectly,
in any other trade,  business or  employment,  or have any  interest,  direct or
indirect, in any other business, firm or Corporation; provided, however, that he
may continue to own or may hereafter  acquire any securities of any class of any
publicly-owned company.

     8.02 Executive shall treat as  confidential  and keep secret the affairs of
Interpublic  and  shall  not at any  time  during  the  term  of  employment  or
thereafter,  without the prior written consent of Interpublic,  divulge, furnish
or make known or  accessible  to, or use for the benefit of,  anyone  other than
Interpublic   and  its   subsidiaries   and  affiliates  any  information  of  a
confidential  nature  relating in any way to the business of  Interpublic or its
subsidiaries or affiliates or their clients and obtained by him in the course of
his employment hereunder.

     8.03 If Executive  violates any  provision of Section 8.01 or Section 8.02,
Interpublic may,  notwithstanding the provisions of Section 7.01,  terminate the
employment of Executive at any time by giving him notice in writing specifying a
termination date. In such event, his employment hereunder shall terminate on the
date specified in such notice.

     8.04 All records,  papers and documents kept or made by Executive  relating
to the  business of  Interpublic  or its  subsidiaries  or  affiliates  or their
clients shall be and remain the property of Interpublic.

     8.05 All  articles  invented by  Executive,  processes  discovered  by him,
trademarks,  designs,  advertising  copy and art  work,  display  and  promotion
materials  and,  in general,  everything  of value  conceived  or created by him
pertaining  to the  business  of  Interpublic  or any  of  its  subsidiaries  or
affiliates during the term of employment, and any and all rights of every nature
whatever  thereto,  shall  immediately  become the property of Interpublic,  and
Executive will assign, transfer and deliver all patents, copyrights,  royalties,
designs and copy,  and any and all  interests  and rights  whatever  thereto and
thereunder to Interpublic, without further compensation, upon notice to him from
Interpublic.

     8.06 Following the termination of Executive's  employment hereunder for any
reason,  Executive  shall not for a period of twenty-four  (24) months from such
termination either: (a) solicit any employee of Interpublic to leave such employ
to enter the employ of Executive or of any  Interpublic or enterprise with which
Executive is then associated, or (b) solicit or handle on Executive's own behalf
or on behalf of any other person, firm or Interpublic,  the advertising,  public
relations,  sales promotion or market research  business of any advertiser which
is a client of Interpublic at the time of such termination.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                   ----------

                                   Assignment
                                   ----------

     9.01 This  Agreement  shall be binding upon and enure to the benefit of the
successors  and assigns of  Interpublic.  Neither this  Agreement nor any rights
hereunder shall be assignable by Executive and any such purported  assignment by
him shall be void.

                                    ARTICLE X
                                   ----------

                                   Arbitration
                                   -----------

     10.01  Any  controversy  or  claim  arising  out  of or  relating  to  this
Agreement,  or the breach thereof,  including claims  involving  alleged legally
protected rights,  such as claims for age discrimination in violation of the Age
Discrimination  in Employment  Act of 1967,  as amended,  Title VII of the Civil
Rights  Act,  as  amended,  and all  other  federal  and state  law  claims  for
defamation, breach of contract, wrongful termination and any other claim arising
because of Executive's employment, termination of employment or otherwise, shall
be settled by arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of
the American  Arbitration  Association  and Section 12.01 hereof,  and judgement
upon the award rendered by the  arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having
jurisdiction  thereof.  The  arbitration  shall  take  place in the  city  where
Executive customarily renders services to Interpublic.

                                   ARTICLE XI
                                   ----------

                                Agreement Entire
                                ----------------

     11.01 This  Agreement,  along with a separate ESBA and Executive  Severance
Agreement,   constitutes  the  entire  understanding   between  Interpublic  and
Executive  concerning  his  employment  by  Interpublic  or any of its  parents,
affiliates  or  subsidiaries  and  supersedes  any and all  previous  agreements
between  Executive  and  Interpublic  or  any  of  its  parents,  affiliates  or
subsidiaries  concerning such  employment,  and/or any  compensation or bonuses.

This Agreement may not be changed orally.

                                   ARTICLE XII
                                   -----------

                                 Applicable Law
                                 --------------

     12.01 The Agreement  shall be governed by and construed in accordance  with
the laws of the State of New York.

<PAGE>
                                          THE INTERPUBLIC GROUP OF
                                          COMPANIES, INC.

                                          By:      /s/ C. Kent Kroeber
                                              ---------------------------------
                                                      C. Kent Kroeber

                                                   /s/ Sean F. Orr
                                              ---------------------------------
                                                       Sean F. Orr