EXECUTIVE AGREEMENT

        THIS EXECUTIVE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) by and between Hudson Highland Group, Inc. (the “Company”) and Richard W. Pehlke (the “Executive”) is made as of this 14th day of June, 2005 (the “Effective Date”).

        WHEREAS, the Executive has advised the Board of Directors of the Company of his imminent departure from employment as an executive of the Company, and the Board of Directors and the Executive have mutually agreed to satisfactory transitional and post-departure consulting arrangements.

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of this mutual Agreement, the Company and the Executive hereby agree as follows:

    1.       Transition Arrangements. Executive’s duties as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company shall continue until the earlier of December 31, 2005, or the date of commencement of employment of Executive’s successor (the “CFO Transition Date”). Except as provided in Section 2, the Executive shall continue in the employ of the Company through December 31, 2005, with the same compensation and benefits as in effect immediately preceding the Effective Date, except that the Executive’s annual bonus for 2005 shall be paid on a prorated basis only for the period of his employment during 2005 prior to the Departure Date (as defined below). The Company agrees to determine Executive’s prorated annual bonus for 2005, in good faith, as if Executive had continued as the Company’s CFO and in accordance with Executive’s pre-existing annual bonus criteria. Executive will assist the Company in its search for a successor Chief Financial Officer and provide reasonable assistance in transitioning his duties to his successor, as requested by the Company’s Chief Executive Officer.

    2.       Departure Date. The final day of the Executive’s regular employment with the Company is his “Departure Date” for purposes of this Agreement. The Executive’s Departure Date will be the first to occur of:

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    3.       Company Payments at Departure Date. The Company will pay to the Executive, in a single lump sum amount, less such taxes and other deductions required by applicable law, the sum of Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000) and One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000), as provided for in the letter agreement entered into between the Executive and TMP Worldwide, Inc. dated March 7, 2003, (the “March 7, 2003, Letter Agreement”). The Company will also pay to the Executive, in a single lump sum amount, less such taxes and other deductions required by applicable law, any unused balance of the Executive’s $25,000 financial planning allowance provided under the March 7, 2003, Letter Agreement. Such payments will be made within ten (10) business days following the Executive’s Departure Date. No payments made to Executive pursuant to this Section shall be deemed to be compensation for purposes of any Company employee pension or welfare benefit plan.

    4.       Obligations of Executive at Departure Date. Executive represents and warrants that Executive will, on or before his Departure Date, provide additional resignations from such positions as the Company deems necessary, including positions as officer or director of the Company or any affiliated company or as member of any committee or administrative body relating to the Company and its businesses. Except as to such material that is approved by the Company for retention by the Executive for his use during the Consulting Period, Executive further represents and warrants that Executive will, on or before his Departure Date, deliver to the Company the original and all copies of all documents, records, and property of any nature whatsoever which are in Executive’s possession or control and which are the property of the Company or which relate to Confidential Information (as described below), or to the business activities, facilities, or customers of the Company, including any records (electronic or otherwise), documents or property created by the Executive.

    5.       Consulting Arrangement Following Departure Date. Executive shall continue in the Company’s employ as a consulting employee during the period commencing immediately following his Departure Date and ending on the first to occur of December 31, 2006, the death of the Executive occurs, the Executive elects to resign, or the Executive is discharged by the Company for Cause, as defined above (the “Consulting Period”), subject to the following:

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The availability of the Consulting Period and the compensation and benefits associated with it are specifically agreed to be additional consideration paid to the Executive for the covenants and releases included in Sections 8, 9, and 10. Executive represents and warrants that Executive will, on or before the last day of the Consulting Period, deliver to the Company the original and all copies of all documents, records, and property of any nature whatsoever which are in Executive’s possession or control and which are the property of the Company or which relate to Confidential Information (as described below), or to the business activities, facilities, or customers of the Company, including any records (electronic or otherwise), documents or property created by the Executive.

    6.       Certain Group Welfare Benefit Plan Extensions. Executive shall cease to be an eligible employee under the Company’s employee pension and benefit plans, including its group medical and dental plans, effective at the end of the Consulting Period. If the Executive elects to exercise his rights to continue group medical and dental plan coverage for a limited period (commonly referred to as “COBRA rights”) within the statutorily prescribed time period commencing immediately following the end of the Consulting Period, the Company will waive any applicable COBRA continuation premium during the eighteen (18) month period following such date. Upon the expiration of the 18-month period described in the preceding sentence, provided Executive remains covered by the Company’s group medical and dental plans at the end of such period, the Company will, for a period of an additional six (6) months, make available to the Executive at no monthly premium cost to the Executive, medical and dental benefits comparable to those (and on substantially similar terms and conditions) that would have been made available to Executive had Executive remained employed by the Company during such period. Thereafter, for any period that may be remaining through December 31, 2008, the Company will make available to Executive, at Executive’s cost for monthly premiums, medical and dental benefits comparable to those (and on substantially similar terms and conditions) that would have been available to Executive had Executive remained employed by the Company during such period.

    7.       Other Agreement