Employment Agreement with Donna Meserve



 Exhibit 10.49 
 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT 
 [as amended on March 14, 2011] 

AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) made and entered into by and between Xerium Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), and Donna M. Meserve (the “Executive”), effective as of the 14th day of Apr il, 2009 (the “Effective Date”). 
 WHEREAS, the Executive has been employed by the Company; and 
 WHEREAS, subject to
the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, the Company wishes to continue to employ the Executive, in the position of Vice President Human Resources, and the Executive wishes to accept such continued employment; 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual promises, terms, provisions and conditions set forth in this
Agreement, the parties hereby agree as follows: 
 1. Emp lo ym ent. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in
this Agreement, the Company hereby offers and the Executive hereby accepts continuation of employment. 
 2. Term. The
employment of the Executive by the Company hereunder shall be for the period commencing on the Effective Date and expiring on the date of the termination of such employment in accordance with Section 5 hereof. For all purposes of this
Agreement, references to (a) the “Termination Date” shall mean the date the Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate pursuant to said Section 5, and (b) the “term” of the Executive’s employment
hereunder shall mean the period commencing on the Effective Date and ending on the Termination Date. Following the Termination Date, unless specifically otherwise agreed between the Executive and any applicable party, the Executive shall cease to
hold any position (whether as an officer, director, manager, employee, trustee, fiduciary or otherwise) with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates. 
 3. Capacity and Performance. 
 (a) During the term of the
Executive’s employment hereunder, the Executive shall serve the Company as its Vice President Human Resources. 
 (b) During the term of the Executive’s employment hereunder, the Executive shall be employed by the Company on a full-time basis and shall perform such duties and responsibilities on behalf of the
Company and its Subsidiaries as may be designated from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer. 
 (c) During
the term of the Executive’s employment hereunder, the Executive shall devote her full business time to the advancement of the business 







 
and interests of the Company and its Subsidiaries and to the discharge of her duties and responsibilities hereunder. The Executive shall not engage in any other business activity or serve in any
industry, trade, professional, governmental or academic position during the term of this Agreement, except as may be expressly approved in advance by the Chief Executive Officer in writing. 

4. Compensation and Benefits. During the term of the Executive’s employment hereunder as compensation for all services
performed by the Executive: 
 (a) Base Salary. The Company shall pay the Executive a base salary at the
rate of One Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars ($180,000) per year effective as of August 8, 2008, payable in accordance with the payroll practices of the Company for its executives and subject to increase from time to time by the Board, in its
sole discretion. Such base salary, as from time to time increased, is hereafter referred to as the “Base Salary.” 
 (b) Annua l Cash Bonus Plan. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in any and all annual cash bonus plans (the “Annual Bonus Plans”) from time to time in effect for senior
executives of the Company generally. The terms of each Annual Bonus Plan and the Executive’s participation therein shall be determined by the compensation committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) (or, if there
is no such committee, by the Board); provided, however, that the Executive shall be entitled to participate in such plans at a minimum participation rate of fifty percent (50%) of her Base Salary paid for the applicable year, with
any awards thereunder payable only to the extent earned pursuant to the terms of the applicable Annual Bonus Plan and subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the applicable Annual Bonus Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no award
under the Annual Bonus Plans may be granted if the compensation committee determines that, in order for such award to qualify as performance-based for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”), the Plan must be submitted to and approved, or resubmitted to and approved, by the stockholders of the Company in accordance with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, unless such grant is made contingent upon such
approval. The compensation committee of the Board (or, if there is no such committee, the Board) may alter, modify, add to or delete any Annual Bonus Plan at any time as it, in its sole judgment, determines to be appropriate. 

(c) Other Incentive Plans. The Executive shall be entitled to participate in any and all cash, equity, bonus and
other incentive plans which are not Annual Bonus Plans (the “Long Term Plans”) from time to time in effect for senior executives of the Company generally. The terms of each Long Term Plan and the Executive’s participation therein
shall be determined by the compensation committee of the Board (or, if there is no such committee, by the Board). The compensation committee of the Board (or, if there is no such committee, the Board) may alter, modify, add to or delete any Long
Term Plan at any time as it, in its sole judgment, determines to be appropriate. 

  
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 (d) Vacations. The Executive shall be entitled to an annual vacation
of four (4) weeks, with reasonable notice to the Chief Executive Officer and subject to the reasonable business needs of the Company. Vacation shall otherwise be governed by the policies of the Company, as in effect from time to time.

 (e) Other Benefits. Subject to any contribution therefor generally required of executives of the
Company, the Executive shall be entitled to participate in any and all employee benefit plans from time to time in effect for executives of the Company generally, except to the extent such plans are in a category of benefit specifically otherwise
provided to the Executive under this Agreement (e.g., severance pay). Such participation shall be subject to the terms of the applicable plan documents and generally applicable Company policies. The Board may alter, modify, add to or delete
employee benefit plans at any time as it, in its sole judgment, determines to be appropriate. 
 (f) Business
Expenses. The Company shall pay or reimburse the Executive for all reasonable and necessary business expenses incurred or paid by the Executive in the performance of her duties and responsibilities hereunder, subject to any maximum annual limit
or other restrictions on such expenses set by the Board and to such reasonable substantiation and documentation as may be specified by the Company from time to time. In the case of any reimbursement to which the Executive is entitled pursuant to
this Section 4(f) that would constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, the following additional rules shall apply: (i) the reimbursable expense must have been incurred, except as otherwise expressly
provided in this Agreement, during the term of this Agreement; (ii) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during any calendar year will not affect the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year;
(iii) the reimbursement shall be made not later than December 31 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred; and (iv) the Executive’s entitlement to reimbursement shall not be subject to
liquidation or exchange for another benefit. 
 (g) Payments/Actions by Company. Wherever it is provided
in this Agreement that payment of any form of compensation or any other action shall be made by the Company, such payment or action may be made by any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company. 

5. Termination of Employment. The Executive’s employment hereunder shall terminate under the following circumstances:

 (a) Death. In the event of the Executive’s death during the term of the Executive’s
employment hereunder, the Executive’s employment shall immediately and automatically terminate. 

  
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 (b) Disability. The Company may terminate the Executive’s
employment hereunder, upon notice to the Executive, in the event that the Executive becomes disabled during her employment hereunder. For this purpose, disability means that the Executive (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful
activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or (ii) is, by reason of any
medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less
than three (3) months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Company. If any questions shall arise as to whether, during any period, the Executive is disabled within the meaning of this Section 5(b), the Executive, at
the request of the Company, shall submit to a medical examination by a physician selected by the Company to determine whether the Executive is so disabled and such determination shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, be conclusive of the issue.
If such question shall arise and the Executive shall fail to submit to such medical examination, the Company’s determination of the issue shall be binding on the Executive. 

(c) By the Company for Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for Cause at any
time upon notice to the Executive setting forth the nature of such Cause. The following shall constitute Cause for termination: (i) the Executive’s conviction of or plea of nolo contendere to a felony or other crime involving moral
turpitude; (ii) the Executive’s fraud, theft or embezzlement committed with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries; (iii) material breach by the Executive of any of the provisions of Sections 8, 9 or 10 hereof that causes
demonstrable harm to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (iv) the Executive’s willful and continued failure to perform her material dut ies to the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company may
terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder for “Cause” within the meaning of this clause (iv) only after the Company has provided written notice to the Executive of the failure, and the Executive shall not have remedied such
failure within ten (10) business days following the effectiveness of such notice. 
 (d) By the Company
Other than for Cause. The Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder other than for Cause at any time upon notice to the Executive. 
 (e) By the Executive Other than for Good Reason. The Executive may terminate her employment hereunder other than for Good Reason (as defined in Section 5(f) below) at any time upon the
provision of sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Company. In the event of termination of the Executive pursuant to this Section 5(e), the Board may elect to waive the period of notice or any portion thereof. 

  
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 (f) By the Executive for Good Reason. The Executive may terminate her
employment hereunder for Good Reason upon written notice to the Company setting forth in reasonable detail the nature of such Good Reason; provided, that such written notice must be delivered to the Company within ninety (90) days of the
initial existence of the condition or circumstance constituting or giving rise to the purported Good Reason. A termination by the Executive hereunder shall not be treated as a termination for Good Reason if the Company remedies the condition or
circumstance constituting or giving rise to the purported Good Reason within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the Executive’s notice, or if actual termination occurs more than two (2) years following the initial existence of such
condition or circumstance. The following shall constitute Good Reason for purposes of this subsection (f): a requirement that the Executive relocate more than fifty (50) miles from her then-current principal residence, it being understood that
the Executive may be required to travel frequently and that prolonged periods spent away from the Executive’s principal residence shall not constitute Good Reason. 
 6. Compensation upon Termination. 
 (a) Death. In the
event of a termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder by reason of death as contemplated by Section 5(a), the Company shall pay in a lump sum within thirty (30) days of such termination to the Executive’s designated
beneficiary or, if no beneficiary has been designated by the Executive, to her estate, the Base Salary earned but not paid through the Termination Date. 
 (b) Disability. In the event of any termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder by reason of disability as contemplated by Section 5(b), the Company shall pay to her the Base
Salary earned but not paid through the date of the notice required by Section 5(b) and, in addition, shall, subject to any employee contribution applicable to the Executive on the Termination Date, continue to contribute to the premium cost of
the Executive’s participation in the Company’s group medical and dental plans for eighteen (18) months (or such longer period as may be provided under the employee benefit plans of the Company), but only if the Executive does not have
access at a reasonable cost to substantially equivalent benefits through another employer, and provided that the Executive is entitled to continue such participation under applicable law and plan terms. For the purpose of insuring that the Executive
receives the full benefit of the Company’s short-term disability insurance plan, the Termination Date under Section 5(b) (Termination for Disability) shall be that date that corresponds with the date the Executive exhausts his eligibility
for short-term disability insurance benefits under the Company’s then-existing short-term disability insurance plan. In the event that there is any limitation on the Company’s ability to provide, or any disqualification of the
Executive’s 

  
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eligibility to receive (other than a disqualification under this Agreement resulting from the Executive’s access at a reasonable cost to substantially equivalent benefits through another
employer) such group medical and/or dental plan benefits on a tax-favorable basis, the Company shall provide equivalent coverage through the purchase of insurance. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this Agreement is intended to affect any
rights Executive may have under any long-term disability plan the Company may have and in which Executive is entitled to participate. 
 (c) By the Company for Cause. In the event of any termination of the Executive’s employment hereunder by the Company for Cause as contemplated by Section 5(c), the Company shall have no
further obligations to the Executive under this Agreement other than payment of Base Salary through the Termination Date and except as specifically provided in Section 6(g). 

(d) By the Company Other than for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason. 

(i) Not Close in Time to a Change of Control. In the event of any termination of the Executive’s employment
hereunder by the Company pursuant to Section 5(d) or by the Executive pursuant to Section 5(f), which termination does not occur within three (3) months prior to or within two (2) years following a Change of Control, the Company
(A) shall continue to pay the Executive the Base Salary at the rate in effect on the Termination Date for one (1) year, and (B) subject to any employee contribution applicable to the Executive on the Termination Date, shall continue
to contribute to the premium cost of the Executive’s participation in the Company’s group medical and dental plans for one (1) year (or such longer period as may be provided under the employee benefit plans of the Company), but only
if the Executive does not have access at reasonable cost to substantially equivalent benefits through another employer, and provided that the Executive is entitled to continue such participation under applicable law and plan terms. In the event that
there is any limitation on the Company’s ability to provide, or any disqualification of the Executive’s eligibility to receive (other than a disqualification under this Agreement resulting from the Executive’s access at a reasonable
cost to substantially equivalent benefits through another employer) such group medical and/or dental plan benefits on a tax-favorable basis, the Company shall provide equivalent coverage through the purchase of insurance. 

(ii) Close in Time to a Change of Control. In the event of any termination of the Executive’s employment
hereunder by the Company pursuant to Section 5(d) or by the Executive pursuant to Section 5(f), which termination occurs within three (3) months prior to or within two (2) years following a Change of Control, the Company
(A) shall continue to pay the Executive the Base Salary at the rate in effect on the Termination Date for eighteen (18) months, and (B) subject to any 

  
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employee contribution applicable to the Executive on the Termination Date, shall continue to contribute to the premium cost of the Executive’s participation in the Company’s group
medical and dental plans for eighteen (18) months (or such longer period as may be provided under the employee benefit plans of the Company), but only if the Executive does not have access at reasonable cost to substantially equivalent benefits
through another employer, and provided that the Executive is entitled to continue such participation under applicable law and plan terms. In the event that there is any limitation on the Company’s ability to provide, or any disqualification of
the Executive’s eligibility to receive (other than a disqualification under this Agreement resulting from the Executive’s access at a reasonable cost to substantially equivalent benefits through another employer), such group medical and/or
dental plan benefits on a tax-favorable basis, the Company shall provide equivalent coverage through the purchase of insurance. 
 (iii) Conditions. Any obligation of the Company to the Executive under Sections 6(b) and 6(d) hereof is conditioned upon (A) the Executive signing a release of claims in the form appended
hereto as Attachment A or such other form as the Company may require (the “Employee Release”) within twenty-one (21) days (or such greater period as the Company may specify) following the date notice of termination of
employment is given hereunder and upon the Executive’s not revoking the Employee Release in a timely manner thereafter, and (B) the Executive’s continued full performance of her continuing obligations hereunder, including those under
Sections 8, 9 and 10. Base Salary to which the Executive is entitled under Sections 6(b) and 6(d) hereof shall be payable in accordance with the normal payroll practices of the Company in effect on the Termination Date and will begin at the
Company’s next regular payroll period which is at least five (5) business days following the effective date of the Employee Release, but shall be retroactive to next business day following the Termination Date. 

(iv) No reduction. The continued payments/contributions by the Company that are described in Sections 6(d)(i) and
6(d)(ii) hereof shall not be reduced by any income or other compensation received by the Executive subsequent to the termination of her employment. 
 (e) By the Executive Other than for Good Reason. If the Executive shall terminate her employment pursuant to Section 5(e), the Company shall continue to pay the Executive her Base Salary
through the Termination Date (it being understood that if, in accordance with Section 5(e), the Board elects to waive the period of notice, or any portion thereof, the payment of Base Salary under this Section 6(e) shall continue through
the notice period or any portion thereof so waived). 
 (f) Delay in Payment Commencement on Account of
Internal 

  
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Revenue Code Section 409A. If the Executive is, at the time of separation from service, a “specified employee” (as hereinafter defined), any and all amounts payable
in connection with such separation from service that constitute deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, and that would (but for this sentence) be payable within six
(6) months following such separation from service, shall not be paid until the date which is six (6) months and one (1) day after the date of such separation from service or, if earlier, the Executive’s date of death. In this
regard, any payments that otherwise would have been made during such six (6) month period shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum on the first date on which they may be paid, together with interest credited at the short-term applicable
federal rate, compounded daily. For purposes of this subsection (f), “specified employee” means an individual determined by the Company to be a specified employee as defined in subsection (a)(2)(B)(i) of Section 409A of the Code. The
Company may, but need not, elect in writing, subject to the applicable limitations under Section 409A of the Code, any of the special elective rules prescribed in Section 1.409A-1(i) of the Treasury Regulations for purposes of determining
“specified employee” status. Any such written election shall be deemed part of this Agreement. 


 (g) Post -Termination Obligations Generally. Except for (i) any right expressly set forth in this Section 6, (ii) any vested benefits under any employee benefit plan referred to in
Section 4(e) which specifically is designed to provide benefits following termination of employment (such as any such plan providing benefits upon disability or retirement) (but subject to all of the terms, if any, of each such other benefit
plan as to how such vested benefits will be treated following termination of employment) and (iii) any rights expressly set forth in any other written agreement to which the Executive and any of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates shall become parties from time to time after the date hereof, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates shall have any further obligations to the Executive, in connection with her employment or the termination thereof,
following expiration of the term of the Executive’s employment hereunder. Satisfaction by the Company and other applicable Persons of such rights and benefits shall constitute full settlement of any claim that the Executive may have on account
of any termination of employment hereunder against the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates and all of their respective past and present officers, directors, stockholders, members, managers, partners, controlling Persons, employees,
agents, representatives, successors and assigns and all others connected with any of them, both individually and in their official capacities. 
 7. Limitation. 
 (a) In the event that it is determined that
any payment or benefit provided by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to or for the benefit of the Executive, either under this Agreement or otherwise, and regardless of under what plan or arrangement it was made, would, absent the application
of this Section 7, 

  
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be subject to excise tax (the “Excise Tax”) imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or any successor provision (“Section 4999”), the Company will reduce such payments and/or
benefits to the extent, but only to the extent, necessary so that no portion of the remaining payments and/or benefits will be subject to the Excise Tax. The Company shall have discretion in determining which, if any, of several payments and/or
benefits (if more than one) are to be reduced. 
 (b) Determinations as to the amount of any cutback required
under this Section 7 will be made by the Company’s tax accountant unless the Executive has reasonable objections to the use of that firm, in which case the determinations will be made by a comparable firm chosen jointly by the Company and
the Executive (the firm making the determinations to be referred to as the “Firm”). The determinations of the Firm will be binding upon the Company and the Executive except as the determinations are established in resolution (including by
settlement) of a controversy with the Internal Revenue Service to have been incorrect. All fees and expenses of the Firm will be paid by the Company. 
 8. Restricted Activities. The Executive agrees that some restrictions on her activities during and after her employment are necessary to protect the goodwill, Confidential Information and other
legitimate interests of the Company and its Subsidiaries: 
 (a) While the Executive is employed by the Company
and for one (1) year after her employment terminates (in the aggregate, the “Non-Competition Period”), the Executive shall not, whether as owner, partner, investor, consultant, agent, employee, co-venturer or otherwise, compete with
the Company: (i) anywhere throughout the world; (ii) in North America; (iii) in South America; (iv) in Europe; (v) in Asia; or (vi) in Australia. Specifically, but without limiting the foregoing, the Executive agrees
not to: (A) undertake any planning for any business competitive with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (B) engage in any manner in any activity that is competitive with the business of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. For
the purposes of this Section 8, the Executive’s undertaking shall encompass all items, products and services that may be used in substitution for Products. 

(b) The Executive agrees that, during her employment with the Company, she will not undertake any outside activity,
whether or not competitive with the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries, that could reasonably give rise to a conflict of interest or otherwise interfere with her duties and obligations to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. 

(c) The Executive further agrees that while she is employed by the Company and during the Non-Competition Period, the
Executive will not, directly or indirectly, (i) hire or attempt to hire any employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) hire or attempt to hire any independent contractor providing services to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, (iii) assist in hiring or any attempt to hire anyone identified in clauses (i) or (ii) of this sentence by any other 

  
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Person, (iv) encourage any employee or independent contractor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to terminate his or her relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or
(v) solicit or encourage any customer or vendor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to terminate or diminish its relationship with any of them, or, in the case of a customer, to conduct with any Person any competing business or activity.

 (d) In the event that the one (1) year post-termination period stated above is held unenforceable by a
court of competent jurisdiction due to its length, then the period shall be six (6) months. 
 9. Confidentia l
Informatio n. 
 (a) The Executive acknowledges that the Company and its Subsidiaries continually develop
Confidential Information, that the Executive has in the past and may in the future develop Confidential Information for the Company or its Subsidiaries and that the Executive has in the past and may in the future learn of Confidential Information
during the course of employment. The Executive will comply with the policies and procedures of the Company and its Subsidiaries for protecting Confidential Information and shall never use or disclose to any Person (except as required by applicable
law or for the proper performance of her duties and responsibilities to the Company and its Subsidiaries), any Confidential Information obtained by the Executive incident to her employment or other association with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. The Executive understands that this restriction shall continue to apply after her employment terminates, regardless of the reason for such termination. 

(b) All documents, records, tapes and other media of every kind and description relating to the business, present or
otherwise, of the Company or its Subsidiaries and any copies, in whole or in part, thereof (the “Documents”), whether or not prepared by the Executive, shall be the sole and exclusive property of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The
Executive shall safeguard all Documents and shall surrender to the Company at the time her employment terminates, or at such earlier time or times as the Board or its designee may specify, all Documents then in the Executive’s possession or
control. 
 10. Assignment of Rights to Intellectual Property. The Executive shall promptly and fully disclose all
Intellectual Property to the Company. The Executive hereby assigns and agrees to assign to the Company (or as otherwise directed by the Company) the Executive’s full right, title and interest in and to all Intellectual Property. The Executive
agrees to execute any and all applications for domestic and foreign patents, copyrights or other proprietary rights and to do such other acts (including without limitation the execution and delivery of instruments of further assurance or
confirmation) requested by the Company to assign the Intellectual Property to the Company and to permit the Company to enforce any patents, copyrights or other proprietary rights to the Intellectual Property. The Executive will not charge the
Company for time spent in complying with these obligations. All copyrightable works that the Executive creates shall be considered “work made for hire.” 

  
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 11. Notification Requirement. Until the conclusion of the Non-Competition Period, the
Executive shall give notice to the Company of each new business activity that she plans to undertake at least thirty (30) days prior to beginning any such activity. Such notice shall state the name and address of the Person for whom such
activity is undertaken and the nature of the Executive’s business relationship(s) and position(s) with such Person. The Executive shall provide the Company with such other pertinent information concerning such business activity as the Company
may reasonably request in order to determine the Executive’s continued compliance with her obligations under Sections 8, 9 and 10 hereof. 
 12. Enforcement of Covenants. The Executive acknowledges that she has carefully read and considered all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including the restraints imposed upon her
pursuant to Sections 8, 9 and 10 hereof. The Executive agrees that said restraints are necessary for the reasonable and proper protection of the Company and its Subsidiaries and that each and every one of the restraints is reasonable in respect to
subject matter, length of time and geographic area. The Executive further acknowledges that, were she to breach any of the covenants contained in Sections 8, 9 and 10 hereof, the damage to the Company would be irreparable. The Executive therefore
agrees that the Company, in addition to any other remedies available to it, shall be entitled to preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against any breach or threatened breach by the Executive of any of said covenants, without having to post
bond. The parties further agree that, in the event that any provision of Sections 8, 9 and 10 hereof shall be determined by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable by reason of its being extended over too great a time, too large a
geographic area or too great a range of activities, such provision shall be deemed to be modified to permit its enforcement to the maximum extent permitted by law. 
 13. Conflicting Agreements. The Executive hereby represents and warrants that the execution of this Agreement and the performance of her obligations hereunder will not breach or be in conflict with
any other agreement to which the Executive is a party or is bound and that the Executive is not now subject to any covenants against competition or similar covenants or any court order or other legal obligation that would affect the performance of
her obligations hereunder. The Executive will not disclose to or use on behalf of the Company any proprietary information of a third party without such party’s consent. 
 14. Definitions. Words or phrases which are initially capitalized or are within quotation marks shall have the meanings provided in this Section 14 and as provided elsewhere herein. For
purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions apply: 
 (a) “Affiliate” means, with respect to
the Company or any other specified Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company or such other specified Person, where control may be by management authority, equity interest or
other means. 

  
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 (b) “Change of Control” shall mean any of the following which
takes place after the consummation of the initial public offering of common stock of the Company (including as part of an income deposit security or other investment unit) registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended: (i) any Person
or “group,” within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act”), other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under
an employee benefit plan of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, becomes a beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, in one or a series of transactions, of securities representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total number of votes that
may be cast for the election of directors of the Company; (ii) any merger or consolidation involving the Company or any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or any combination of the foregoing,
occurs and the beneficial owners of the Company’s voting securities outstanding immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, sale or other disposition do not, immediately following the consummation of such consolidation, merger, sale or
other disposition, hold beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of securities representing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total number of votes that may be cast for election of directors of the surviving or resulting corporation in
the case of any merger or consolidation or of the acquiring Person or Persons in the case of any sale or other disposition; or (iii) within twelve (12) months after a tender offer or exchange offer for voting secur ities of the Company
(other than by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), individuals who are Continuing Directors shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board. For the purpose of this definition, the term “beneficial owner” (and correlative terms,
including “beneficial ownership”) shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the Act. 
 (c)
“Confidential Information” means any and all information of the Company and its Subsidiaries that is not generally known by others with whom they compete or do business, or with whom they plan to compete or do business and any and all
information which, if disclosed by the Company or its Subsidiaries, would assist in competition against them. Confidential Information includes without limitation such information relating to (i) the development, research, testing,
manufacturing, marketing and financial activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) the Products, (iii) the costs, sources of supply, financial performance and strategic plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries, (iv) the
identity and special needs of the customers of the Company and its Subsidiaries and (v) the people and organizations with whom the Company and its Subsidiaries have business relationships and those relationships. Confidential Information also
includes any information that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have received, or may receive hereafter, from others which was received by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with any understanding, express or implied, that the information
would not be disclosed. 
 (d) “Continuing Director” means, with respect to any event referred to in
the definition of “Change of Control,” each individual who was a director of 

  
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the Company immediately prior to the event in question and each individua l whose election as a director by the Board or whose nomination for election by the stockholders of the Company was
approved by a vote of two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors immediately prior to such event or whose election or nomination was previously so approved. 

(e) “Intellectual Property” means inventions, discoveries, developments, methods, processes, compositions,
works, concepts and ideas (whether or not patentable or copyrightable or constituting trade secrets) conceived, made, created, developed or reduced to practice by the Executive (whether alone or with others and whether or not dur ing normal business
hours or on or off the premises of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) during the Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including prior to the Effective Date if applicable) that relate to either the Products or
any prospective activity of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or that make use of Confidential Information or any of the equipment or facilities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. 

(f) “Person” means an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a partnership, an
estate, a trust and any other entity or organization. 
 (g) “Products” mean all products planned,
researched, developed, tested, manufactured, sold, licensed, leased or otherwise distributed or put into use by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, together with all services provided or planned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, during
the Executive’s employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including prior to the Effective Date if applicable). 
 (h) “Subsidiary” shall mean any Person of which the Company (or other specified Person) shall, directly or indirectly, own beneficially or control the voting of at least a majority of the
outstanding capital stock (or other shares of beneficial interest) entitled to vote generally or at least a majority of the partnership, membership, joint venture or similar interests, or in which the Company (or other specified Person) or a
Subsidiary thereof shall be a general partner or joint venturer without limited liability. 
 (i) All references
in this Agreement to termination of employment, separation from service, retirement and similar or correlative terms, when used in a context that bears upon the vesting, payment or timing of payment of any amounts or benefits that constitute or
could constitute “nonqualified deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, shall be construed to require a “separation from service” (as that term is defined in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury
Regulations) from the Company and from all other 

  
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corporations and trades or businesses, if any, that would be treated as a single “service recipient” with the Company under Section 1.409A-1(h)(3) of the Treasury Regulations. The
Company may, but need not, elect in writing, subject to the applicable limitations under Section 409A of the Code, any of the special elective rules prescribed in Section 1.409A-1(h) of the Treasury Regulations for purposes of determining
whether a “separation from service” has occurred. Any such written election shall be deemed part of this Agreement. 

15. Survival. The provisions of this Agreement shall survive following the Termination Date if so provided herein or desirable to
accomplish the purposes of other surviving provisions, including without limitation the provisions of Sections 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. 
 16. Withhold ing. All payments made by the Company under this Agreement shall be reduced by any tax or other amounts required to be withheld by the Company under applicable law. 

17. Assignment. Neither the Company nor the Executive may make any assignment of this Agreement or any interest herein, by
operation of law or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the other; provided, however, that the Company may assign its rights and obligations under this Agreement without the consent of the Executive in the event that the
Company shall hereafter effect a reorganization, consolidation or merger or to whom the Company transfers all or substantially all of its properties or assets. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and the
Executive, their respective successors, executors, administrators, heirs and permitted assigns. 
 18. Severability. If
any portion or provision of this Agreement shall to any extent be declared illegal or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, then the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such portion or provision in circumstances other
than those as to which it is so declared illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, and each portion and provision of this Agreement shall be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. 

19. Waiver. No waiver of any provision hereof shall be effective unless made in writing and signed by the waiving party. The
failure of either party to require the performance of any term or obligation of this Agreement, or the waiver by either party of any breach of this Agreement, shall not prevent any subsequent enforcement of such term or obligation or be deemed a
waiver of any subsequent breach. 
 20. Notices. Any and all notices, requests, demands and other communications provided
for by this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be effective when delivered in person, when delivered by courier at the Executive’s last known address on the books of the Company, or five (5) business days following deposit in the
United States mail, postage prepaid, registered or certified, and addressed to the Executive at her last known address on the books of the Company or, in the case of the Company, at its principal place of business, attention of the Chairman of the
Board or to such other address as either party may specify by notice to the other actually received. 

  
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 21. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the other plans and documents specifically
referred to herein constitute the entire agreement between the parties regarding the subject matter of this Agreement and such other plans and documents and supersede all prior communications, agreements and understandings, written or oral, with
respect to such subject matter. 
 22. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended or modified only by a written instrument
signed by the Executive and by an expressly authorized representative of the Company. 
 23. Headings. The headings and
captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and in no way define or describe the scope or content of any provision of this Agreement. 
 24. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one (1) and the same
instrument. 
 25. Governing Law. This is a North Carolina contract and shall be construed and enforced under and be
governed in all respects by the laws of the State of North Carolina, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof. 

26. Seal. The Executive warrants and represents that she hereby adopts the word/symbol (SEAL) as her seal with the intent that
this Agreement be signed by the Executive under seal and treated as a sealed instrument. 
 27. Consideration. The
parties expressly waive any defense either may now or hereafter have as to the lack of inadequacy of consideration for this Agreement. 
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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been executed as a sealed instrument
by the Executive and by the Company through its duly authorized representative, as of the date first above written. 
  

							
	THE EXECUTIVE:	 		 	XERIUM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
				
	 /s/ Donna M.
Meserve                                        
(SEAL)
	 		 	By:	 	 /s/ Stephen R. Light

	Donna M. Meserve	 		 	Name:	 	Stephen R. Ligh
		 		 	Title:	 	President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman


  

	
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