RedEnvelope, Inc. Chief Financial Officer Employment Agreement with Polly E. Boe (March 28, 2005)
This agreement outlines the terms of employment for Polly E. Boe as Chief Financial Officer of RedEnvelope, Inc. She will receive a $250,000 annual salary, relocation assistance, benefits, and stock options. The employment is at-will, meaning either party can terminate it at any time. If terminated without cause, Polly will receive six months' severance pay and health insurance reimbursement. The agreement also requires her to sign confidentiality and invention assignment documents and resolve most disputes through arbitration. The start date is set for April 18, 2005, or soon after.
March 28, 2005
Exhibit 10.45
Polly E. Boe
5676 Highland Park Court
Salt Lake City, Utah 84121
Re: Employment Terms
Dear Polly:
On behalf of RedEnvelope (Company), I am very pleased to offer you employment as the Companys Chief Financial Officer.
You will report directly to me, and will work in our San Francisco office. The position of Chief Financial Officer is exempt. Your primary high-level duties in this position will include the management of the Companys financial planning, reporting and accounting practices. You will also be responsible for any other projects or assignments as directed by the President and Chief Executive Officer. At all times during employment with the Company, you will devote your full energies, abilities and productive business time to the performance of your job for the Company and will not engage in any activity that would in any way interfere or conflict with the full performance of any of your duties for the Company.
You will receive an annualized salary of $250,000, less applicable payroll deductions and all required withholdings, in accordance with the Companys regular payroll practices. In addition, we will reimburse up to $30,000 of your expenses of moving your household from the Salt Lake City, Utah area to the San Francisco Bay area (including expenses of selling your home) and provide up to three months of temporary housing to accommodate you and your family during your relocation.
Commencing on the month following your start date, you will be eligible to participate in the Companys standard benefits package. You will also be eligible for the Companys standard PTO and holiday benefits. The Company may modify or cancel benefits from time to time, as it deems appropriate in its sole discretion.
In addition, we will recommend that the Board of Directors of the Company (Board) grant you an option to purchase 60,000 shares of the Companys common stock. The specific characteristics, terms and conditions of the option mentioned above will be set forth in the option plan and grant documentation to follow after approval by the Board; provided, however, that options to purchase 15,000 shares shall vest upon your start date. Provided you continue to be employed by the Company, one thirty-sixth of the remaining options shall vest in equal monthly installments over the three-year period thereafter.
Your employment with the Company is for no specified duration and may be terminated either by you or the Company at any time and for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause or advance notice. The Company also retains the right to make all other decisions concerning your employment (e.g., changes to your position, title, level, responsibilities, compensation, job duties, reporting structure, work location, work schedule, goals or any other managerial
decisions) at any time, with or without cause or advance notice, as it deems appropriate in its sole discretion. This at-will employment relationship cannot be changed except in writing signed by you and the Companys Chief Executive Officer. If the Company terminates your employment without cause, in exchange for you signing a general release of any and all claims, the Company will pay you severance in the total amount of six months of your base salary, less applicable payroll deductions and all required withholdings. In addition, the Company will reimburse you for six months of premiums to continue your and your dependents health care insurance coverage under COBRA, if you elect to continue such coverage. This severance amount will be paid in biweekly installments, less applicable payroll deductions and all required withholdings, in accordance with the Companys regular payroll schedule, during the six calendar months following the termination of your employment.
As used in this agreement, cause shall mean material nonperformance or misconduct in the performance of your duties and responsibilities as an employee, indictment for a felony or another crime involving fraud or dishonesty, or theft or misappropriation of assets of the Company having more than nominal value.
Your employment with the Company is contingent on your having signed the Companys standard employee confidentiality and invention assignment agreement prior to your start date, providing satisfactory proof of your right to work in the United States as required by law, and on the Companys verification of your qualifications, background, experience and references. You will comply at all times with all Company policies, rules and procedures as they may be established, stated and/or modified from time to time at the Companys sole discretion.
Prior to your first day of work with the Company, you will have previously returned any confidential, proprietary or trade secret information belonging to any prior employer and will not use such information in your employment with the Company. You will also strictly adhere to the terms of any lawful restrictive covenants entered into between you and any prior employers.
Except as specified below, to the fullest extent allowed by law, any and all disputes, claims or controversies of any kind arising out of or related in any way to hiring, employment or the termination of employment with the Company (including without limitation any statutory or common law claims against the Company or any of its agents or employees) shall be fully and finally resolved through binding arbitration, before a neutral arbitrator, pursuant to the California Arbitration Act, California Code of Civil Procedure section 1280, et seq. You and the Company therefore waive any right to a jury trial on any such claims or matters. Any arbitration between the parties will be conducted before the American Arbitration Association (AAA) in San Francisco, California, under the AAAs then existing national rules for the resolution of employment disputes, as modified in any respect necessary to comply with the requirements of California law for enforcement of arbitration agreements regarding employment-related disputes. This arbitration provision shall not apply to any claims for injunctive or other similar equitable relief. Before commencing any arbitration proceedings, any dispute between you and the Company or any of its agents or employees shall first be submitted, in writing, to the Companys Human Resource Officer (or if none, to the head of Finance & Accounting) for a good faith attempt at resolution.
This letter sets forth the entire agreement between you and the Company on the terms of your employment with the Company and supersedes any prior representations, understandings, promises or agreements, whether oral or written, by anyone regarding employment with the Company. The employment terms in this letter may only be modified in a writing signed by both you and the Companys Chief Executive Officer.
If you wish to accept employment with the Company under the terms described above, please sign and date this letter and return it to me at your earliest convenience. If you accept our offer, we would like you to start with us on April 18, 2005 or as soon thereafter as possible.
Polly, we are excited at the prospect of you joining our team and look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
RedEnvelope, Inc.
By: | /s/ Alison May | |
Alison May | ||
Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer |
ACCEPTED AND AGREED:
POLLY E. BOE
/s/ Polly Boe | March 28, 2005 | |
Signature | Date |