DEAN & DELUCA
560 Broadway
New York, New York 10012
June 8, 1998
Mr. Duminda De Silva
c/o Old Boston Restoration
477 Shawmut Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
Dear Duminda:
The following are the terms of your at will employment at Dean & Deluca as Vice
President and General Manager of the Catalogue Division. Your position, based in
the new corporate offices in New York City, will report directly to me.
You will have full profit and loss responsibility for the catalogue division,
and be accountable for supervising all aspects of catalogue operations,
including marketing/circulation management, order fulfillment and warehousing,
call center operations, catalogue production and creative direction, product
buying/merchandising and catalogue staffing. Your objective will be to grow
sales and create a long-term, profitable enterprise which reflects the superior
quality, excellence, ambiance and brand recognition associated with the Dean & Deluca name. Your desire to assume a broader brand development role for the
company is one that you could evolve into after you get your hands around the
catalogue business - although I would expect there will be overlap in
positioning the catalogue.
You will be expected to encourage full and open communication with your staff,
and to foster a working environment which embraces the principles of continuous
improvement and excellence in execution. I will expect you to communicate with
me on a regular basis, so there are no surprises. You should feel free to
express yourself candidly about matters affecting your division; just expect a
lot of questions from me, and healthy debate. Finally, you should employ market
based management principles in all of your commercial decision making, and act
with a sense of urgency in executing your plans.
Your annual base salary will be $120,000 with an opportunity to receive a bonus
of up to 25% of your base salary on your first anniversary based on your job
performance. Because the members of our team shared my high opinion of you, we
are willing to meet your compensation objectives. We are
committed to rewarding people who make significant and valuable contributions to
our organization. Although you do not bring specific catalogue experience to the
table, we have great confidence that you will 'learn the ropes' in short order.
All of us were taken by your enthusiasm and passion for this business, and
believe you will accomplish your 'vision' for the company.
You will receive standard health benefits after 90 days of employment and will
be eligible to participate in our 401K plan on your first anniversary date.
These and other benefits and responsibilities are more fully defined in Employee
Handbook which has already been issued to you. We will also reimburse you for
reasonable moving costs between Boston and New York, including one trip to New
York to secure permanent housing. Please call Lori Fernandez at extension 236 if
you need assistance in locating an apartment.
Additionally, you will have the opportunity to participate in our non-qualified
employee stock option plan after one year of employment. The granting of these
options will be based on your job performance, and is strictly discretionary at
the will of the committee responsible for administering the plan. The granting
of options is subject to a vesting schedule and other terms and conditions which
are set forth in the stock option plan and stock option agreement, which you
will receive upon eligibility in the plan.
We would like you to start as soon as possible, but recognize you have
obligations at Koch Industries that may require you to give more than the
standard two week's notice. You also have expressed interest in attending the
Harvard Strategic Marketing Management Course which commences on June 14 and
ends on June 26, 1998. Dean & Deluca will reimburse you for tuition costs not to
exceed $9,000. In light of the above, please give me an indication of when you
will be able to start.
Duminda, I know I speak for all the people you have met at Dean & Deluca in
expressing our enthusiasm about the prospects of you joining our team. Your
professionalism and passion for food and brand development, combined with our
commitment to quality and excellence, shall prove to be a winning combination.
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This offer of employment is subject to having satisfactory interviews in
Wichita, which we have every confidence will go as well as they did here in New
York. I would like to arrange your visit to Wichita as soon as possible. Please
call me or Lori to set a mutually convenient time, or if you have any questions
or comments concerning this letter. If the terms and conditions of this letter
are acceptable, please sign and fax back to me at my confidential fax - (212)
965-1765.
Yours sincerely,
/s/ DANE J. NELLER
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Dane J. Neller
President and Chief Executive Officer
Agreed and Accepted:
/s/ Duminda De Silva
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Duminda De Silva
6/16/98
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Date
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Employment Agreement - Dean & Deluca and Duminda De Silva
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