Japan Partner Employment Agreement - L. Kevin Kelly

Exhibit 10.08


HEIDRICK & STRUGGLES


Consultants in Executive Search

May 27, 1997


Mr. L. Kevin Kelly

Homat Green Hill #120

4-2-8 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku

Tokyo, Japan


Dear Kevin:

Thank you for taking the time with our key partners. We are very much looking forward to having you as a member of the H&S family worldwide. Based on the parameters we discussed previously, we are pleased to confirm Heidrick & Struggles Japan Co. Ltd.' s offer of employment to you and want to set forth our agreement, which is as follows: 1. Employment :

You will join our Tokyo, Japan, branch office (" Company" ) on July 15th, 1997, with the title of Partner to perform the duties of an executive search consultant as you have agreed to perform those duties for us. You will report to the Tokyo Office Managing Partner with the understanding that we may change this at any time. As an executive search Partner, the Company will expect you to achieve an acceptable level of Fee and Source of Business Credits after a reasonable break-in period. Based on your level of experience, we expect that your Fee and Source of Business Credits (Execution Fee plus Business Development) will be at least a5150,000,000 for our fiscal year ending September 30th, 1998, and a5170,000,000 for our fiscal year ending September 30th, 1999, with the following year' s figures exceeding the foregoing after inflation. 2. Probationary Period :

As is customary in Japan, you shall serve a six-month probationary period from the effective date of employment. During this probationary period we shall determine if you are suitable for the duties referred to in Item 1 above. Should we determine, during this period, that you are, for any reason, unsuitable for the position, we may terminate this agreement and your employment with the company with no liability whatsoever. Along the same lines, you may decide that H&S does not offer you the type of employment that you are comfortable with.

3. Compensation :

Your compensation will consist of Items 4 through 8 below.

Kasurnigaseki Building Suite 3118 3-2-5 Kasurnigaseki Chiyoda-ka Tokyo 100 Phone: 03-3500-5310 FAX: 03-3500-5350

Heidrick & Struggles Japan. Ltd. Offices in Principal Cities of the World


L. Kevin Kelly

May 28, 1997

Page 2

4. Wages (Base) :

Your monthly base salary will be a51,330,000 (a515,960,000 annually). Your position with the Company is an exempt p ...