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                    [LETTERHEAD OF BANYAN WORLDWIDE SERVICES]

                                                                   Exhibit 10.55


August 11, 1999


Mr. Rodney P. Jackson
70 Sudbury Street
Marlborough, MA 01752

Dear Rod:

This letter reflects revisions to the original offer of employment to you as
Vice President, Americas within Banyan Worldwide Services ("Banyan" or
"Company") reporting to me. I trust you will find everything in order and per
our agreement. I look forward to your start date of August 23, 1999.

The following items comprise the details of the offer:

A.       Compensation
         ------------

         The base salary will be $8,461.54 biweekly, or $220,000 annually.

B.       Sign-on Stock
         -------------

         You will receive 25,000 shares of incentive stock options, subject to
         approval by the Board of Directors and in accordance with the
         applicable terms and conditions of Banyan's 1992 Stock Incentive Plan.
         These options will be priced as of the close of business August 10,
         1999, i.e. $6.84 per share, and will become fully vested on your first
         day of employment with Banyan.

C.       Bonus Plan
         ----------

         You will be eligible to participate in a Performance Bonus Plan that is
         targeted at an annualized rate of $110,000 at 100% achievement and
         prorated from your date of hire. You will also be eligible to earn up
         to an additional $50,000 in annual bonus payments upon achievement of
         goals which exceed the 100% performance levels. Payment of this bonus
         will be based upon a combination of Banyan Worldwide Services
         performance and achievement of your individual objectives that will be
         discussed and defined with you during your first month of employment.


                           Personal and Confidential

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Mr. Rodney P. Jackson
Page 2
August 11, 1999


D.       First Year Guarantee
         --------------------

         During your first year of employment you will be guaranteed $60,000 of
         your target bonus described in section C above. This bonus will be paid
         quarterly per the following schedule beginning with the October 1, 1999
         quarter: 1) $20,000 at the end of Q4 of 1999, 2) $20,000 at the end of
         Q1 of 2000, 3) $10,000 at the end of Q2 of 2000, and 4) $10,000 at the
         end of Q3 of 2000. Bonus payments are normally paid within 45 days of
         the quarter end. In the event of an involuntary separation during your
         first year of employment, you will receive your First Year Guarantee on
         a prorated basis as of the effective date of the termination. You must
         be employed for 30 days after the end of a quarter in order to receive
         that quarter's bonus payment.

E.       Stock
         -----

         You will be granted an option to purchase an aggregate of 75,000 shares
         of Common Stock of the Company, subject to the approval of the Board of
         Directors and in accordance with the applicable terms and conditions of
         Banyan's 1992 Stock Incentive Plan. These options will be priced as of
         the close of business August 10, 1999, i.e. $6.84 per share, and will
         vest at a rate of 25,000 shares per year over three (3) years beginning
         from and after 12 months after the date of grant.

         In the event of a Change in Control, (defined below), 50% of your
         issued but unvested incentive stock options in a given vesting schedule
         will become fully vested and immediately available for exercise in
         accordance with the applicable terms and conditions of Banyan's 1992
         Stock Incentive Plan.

F.       Restricted Stock
         ----------------

         The Company shall issue and sell to you, subject to approval by the
         Board of Directors and the terms and conditions set forth in the Banyan
         1992 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, and per a Restricted Stock
         Agreement to be issued subsequent to your commencement of employment
         with the Company, 10,000 shares of Common Stock at a purchase price of
         $0.01 per share. Of this total amount, 50% or 5,000 shares will become
         available for exercise one (1) year from the date of grant and 50% or
         5,000 shares will become available for exercise two (2) years from the
         date of grant, provided you are still actively employed by the Company
         on those dates.


                           Personal and Confidential

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Mr. Rodney P. Jackson
Page 3
August 11, 1999


G.        Benefits
          --------

          .    You will be eligible for group medical, dental, disability and
               life insurance through the Company. Coverage for you and your
               dependents will commence on your first day of employment, subject
               to any insurers' eligibility requirements and the payment of any
               applicable employee contributions.
          .    You will be eligible to accrue four (4) weeks of vacation time
               each year on your anniversary date effective from your date of
               hire. As an executive, this time does not carry over from year to
               year and any earned but unused vacation time will not be paid
               upon termination from the Company.

H.        Protection in the Event of Termination
          --------------------------------------

          Termination by Banyan

          If your employment is terminated by Banyan for any reason, except For
          Cause or a Change in Control, Banyan will provide you the following
          payments and benefits:

          .    Banyan will pay you on a biweekly basis your base salary until
               you have obtained other employment to a maximum of six (6) months
               from the effective date of your termination or Banyan will pay
               you on a biweekly basis the difference between any outside
               earnings (for example in the case of obtaining consulting
               assignments) and your Banyan base salary for a maximum of six
               months from the effective date of your termination.

          .    Banyan will pay you all bonuses you have earned or that are
               guaranteed (on a pro-rata basis) as of the effective date of your
               termination.

          .    Banyan will provide up to six (6) months of continued medical,
               dental and life insurance for you and your family from the
               effective date of your termination, subject to the payment of any
               applicable employee contributions.

          .    Banyan will accelerate the vesting of those unvested incentive
               stock options which would have become fully vested within the six
               (6) month period following the effective date of your
               termination, which would be available for exercise in accordance
               with the applicable terms and conditions of the Banyan 1992 Stock
               Incentive Plan.


                           Personal and Confidential

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Mr. Rodney P. Jackson
Page 4
August 11, 1999


     Termination Due to Material Reduction in Responsibilities or Relocation

     In the event of a Material Reduction in your Responsibilities (defined
     below) in effect immediately prior to a Change in Control of the Company or
     if your job is relocated outside of a reasonably commutable distance within
     New England and upon 30 days prior written notice to Banyan, you may
     voluntarily terminate your employment with the Company and receive the
     payments and benefits as outlined in section H of this letter.

     Termination after a Change in Control

     If your employment is terminated within 12 months following a Change in
     Control, you will receive six months of base annual salary plus six months
     of your annual bonus at the 100% performance level per your Executive bonus
     plan in effect at the time of termination.

For purposes of this letter, the following terms shall have the following
respective meanings:

     .    Termination of employment for cause ("For Cause") shall mean
          termination by reason of (a) any act or omission involving dishonesty,
          gross negligence or serious misconduct, or (b) your conviction of, or
          the entry of a pleading guilty or nolo contendere by you to, any crime
          involving sexual harassment or any felony. Termination of employment
          For Cause will be presented in writing, accompanied by a written
          statement of reasons. A process of binding arbitration will resolve
          disagreements.

     .    A material reduction in responsibilities ("Material Reduction in
          Responsibilities") shall be deemed to occur if: (i) your
          responsibilities are reduced, for reasons other than For Cause, from
          managing the Americas field organization; or, (ii) Banyan removes you
          from the position of Vice President, Americas for reasons other than
          For Cause.

     .    A change in control ("Change in Control") of the Company shall be
          deemed to occur if and only if (a) any person or entity (other than
          the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under
          an employee benefit plan of the Company, or any corporation owned
          directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company is
          substantially the same proportion as their ownership of stock of the
          Company) is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule
          13d-3 under the Securities and Exchange of 1934, as amended), directly
          or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50%
          of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding voting
          securities (b) a merger or consolidation of the Company


                           Personal and Confidential

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Mr. Rodney P. Jackson
Page 5
August 11, 1999


            following which the voting securities of the Company outstanding
            immediately prior thereto do not continue to represent more than 50%
            of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company
            or the entity outstanding immediately after such merger or
            consolidation, or (c ) a sale of all or substantially all of the
            assets of the Company.

I.   Employment Status; Offer Terms
     ------------------------------

          Since Banyan's standard policy does not provide for agreements
          guaranteeing employment for any specific period of time, this offer is
          not intended to be construed as an employment contract. Therefore, you
          are, and shall remain, an employee at will.

          The terms of this offer are valid for the duration of your employment
          subject to a 30-day notice period of cancellation by either party.

Please confirm your acceptance of this revised offer for employment by the end
of today by signing this letter and providing your start date of August 23, 1999
as agreed.

Rod, I look forward with great expectation to you joining our team and leading
the Americas Organization. I am confident you will be highly successful.


Sincerely,


/s/ Robert Burke
--------------------------
Robert Burke
President
Banyan Worldwide Services


cc:          Anthony J. Bellantuoni, Vice President of Human Resources

Attachments: Employee Patent and Confidential Information Agreement
             Form I-9



Accepted:


/s/ Rodney P. Jackson                                    8/23/99
---------------------------------                    -------------------------
Rodney P. Jackson                                    start date


                           Personal and Confidential