QuickLinks
 -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document
  



 
 

Exhibit 10.14    
    


Omneon Video Networks Logo  


May 5,
2005 


Ronald
Howe 


Dear
Ron: 


I
am pleased to offer you a position with Omneon Video Networks, Inc. (the "Company") as Vice President of Customer Service. Your position with the Company pursuant to the terms and conditions
of this letter will commence May 23, 2005. While employed by the Company, you will report to the Chief Executive Officer and have such duties and responsibilities as this office may from time
to time require. You agree to perform your duties faithfully and to the best of your abilities and to devote your full business efforts and time to the Company. Additionally, while employed by the
Company, you agree to not actively engage in any other employment, occupation or consulting activity for any direct or indirect remuneration without prior approval. 


While
employed by the Company, you will receive as compensation for your services a base salary at the annualized rate of one hundred and eighty-five thousand dollars ($185,000). You will
also be eligible to earn a variable bonus of up to 10% of your base salary, based upon meeting individual operational milestones to be agreed upon. This individual performance based bonus may be
replaced in the future by an executive bonus plan encompassing both company and individual
performance goals. Your salary and bonus will be paid periodically in accordance with normal Company payroll practices and be subject to the usual, required withholding. 


Additionally,
subject to approval by the Board, you will be granted a stock option to purchase 115,000 shares of Company common stock (approximately .50% of fully diluted shares) at an exercise price
to be determined by the Board. One quarter (1/4th) of the shares subject to the option will vest on the one-year anniversary of your employment with the
Company, and the remaining shares will vest as to one-forty-eighth (1/48th) of the total shares each month thereafter, subject to your continued employment
with the Company on the relevant vesting dates. The option will be subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's 1998 Stock Option Plan and the applicable option agreement between you and the
Company, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. During your employment with the Company, you will be eligible to participate in the employee benefit plans currently and hereafter
maintained by the Company of general applicability to other senior executives of the Company, including, without limitation, the Company's group medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance
plans. The Company reserves the right to cancel or change the benefit plans and programs it offers to its employees at any time. 


If
within one year following a Change of Control (i) you terminate your employment with the Company for Good Reason or (ii) the Company (or its successor) terminates your employment
other than for Cause, and you sign and do not revoke a standard release of claims with the company, then (i) you will be entitled to receive continuing payments of severance pay (less
applicable withholding taxes) at a rate equal to your then current base salary for a period of six (6) months from the date of such event, to be paid periodically in accordance with the
Company's normal payroll policies; (ii) during the six (6) month period following your termination of employment, the Company will pay for the same level of health (i.e. medical, vision
and dental) coverage and benefits as in effect for you and your covered dependents on the day immediately preceding the date of such termination; and (iii) any options held by you to purchase
shares of the Company's common stock will immediately vest and become 


1







 



exercisable
as to that number of shares, if any, that would have vested had you remained employed by the Company through the twelve (12) month period from the date of such termination ("Change
of Control Benefits"). 


"Cause"
is defined as (i) an act of material dishonesty made by you in connection with your responsibilities as an employee, (ii) your conviction of, or plea of  nolo contendere to, a felony,
(iii) your gross misconduct, or (iv) your continued substantial violations of your employment duties after
you have received a written demand for performance from the Company which specifically sets forth the factual basis for the Company's belief that you have not substantially performed your duties. 


"Change
of Control" is defined as the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes the "beneficial
owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power
represented by the
Company's then outstanding voting securities, (ii) the consummation of the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets, or (iii) the
consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding
immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or its parent) at least fifty percent (50%) of
the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity or its parent outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation. 


"Good
Reason" is defined as any of the following, without your express written consent, (i) a significant reducing of your duties, position or responsibilities relative to your duties, position
or responsibilities in effect immediately prior to such reduction, or your removal from such position, duties and responsibilities, unless you are provided with comparable duties, position and
responsibilities; provided, however, that a reduction in duties, position or responsibilities solely by virtue of the Company being acquired and made part of a larger entity (as, for example, when the
President of the Company remains as such following a change of control but is not made the President of the acquiring corporation) will not constitute "Good Reason;" (ii) a material reduction
by the Company of your base salary as in effect immediately prior to such reduction (other than in connection with a Company-wide salary reduction program applicable to similarly-situated
executives); or (iii) your relocation to a facility or a location more than fifty (50) miles from your current location. 


You
should understand that your employment with the Company is "at-will", and may be terminated by you or the Company at any time and for any reason. This offer letter and the confidential
information and invention assignment agreement between you and the Company that you will be expected to execute upon commencement of your employment, represent the entire agreement and understanding
between you and the Company concerning your employment relationship with the Company, and supersede in their entirety any and all prior agreements and understandings concerning your employment
relationship with the Company, whether written or oral. 


The
terms and conditions set forth in this offer letter will be binding and inure to the benefit of (i) your heirs, executors and legal representatives upon your death, and (ii) any
successor of the Company. In the event any of the terms and conditions set forth in this offer letter becomes, or is determined to be, illegal, unenforceable or void, all other terms and conditions
will continue in full force and effect. 


You
agree that any and all controversies, claims, or disputes with anyone (including the Company and any employee, officer, director, shareholder, or benefit plan of the Company in their capacity as
such or otherwise) arising out of, relating to, or resulting from your service to the Company under this Agreement or otherwise or the termination of your service with the Company, including any
breach of this Agreement, will be subject to binding arbitration. You further understand that this Agreement to 


2







 



arbitrate
also applies to any disputes that the Company may have with you. You agree that any arbitration will be administered in Santa Clara, California by the American Arbitration Association and
that a neutral arbitrator will be selected in a manner consistent with its National Rules for the Resolution of Employment Disputes. 


This
letter will be governed by the laws of the state of California, with the exception of its conflict of laws provisions. 


Please
sign below to indicate your acceptance and agreement to the terms set forth in this offer letter and fax the signed offer letter to me at (408) 585-5098. If you have any
questions, don't hesitate to contact me. I am excited to welcome you to the Company, and I look forward to your participation in the Company's future success. 


Sincerely,




	/s/  JOSEPH S. KENNEDY      
 Joseph S. Kennedy

President and CEO

Omneon Video Networks, Inc.	 	 
	

Accepted and agreed to this	
 	

 
	

6th day of May, 2005.	
 	

/s/  RONALD HOWE      
 Signature




3











QuickLinks



Exhibit 10.14