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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY


                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered into as of
this 1st day of January, 2001, by and between EDWIN R. MELLETT, an individual
resident of the State of Georgia ("Employee"), and AHL SERVICES, INC., a Georgia
corporation ("the "Employer").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, Employer desires to employ Employee, and Employee desires to
be employed by Employer, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth,
effective as of January 1, 2001 (the "Effective Date");

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
promises and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto, intending to be
legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

                  Section 1         Employment.

                  Subject to the terms hereof, the Employer hereby employs
Employee, and Employee hereby accepts such employment. Employee will serve as
Co-Chief Executive Officer of Employer or in such other executive capacity as
the Board of Directors of Employer (the "Board of Directors") may hereafter from
time to time determine. Employee agrees to devote his full business time and
best efforts to the performance of the duties that Employer may assign Employee
from time to time.

                  Section 2         Term of Employment.

                  The term of Employee's employment hereunder (the "Term") shall
be from the Effective Date until the earlier of (a) December 31, 2003 or (b) the
occurrence of any of the following events:

         (i)      The death or total disability of Employee (total disability
                  meaning the failure to fully perform his normal required
                  services hereunder for a period of three (3) months during any
                  consecutive twelve (12) month period during the term hereof,
                  as determined by the Board of Directors, by reason of mental
                  or physical disability);

         (ii)     The termination by Employer of Employee's employment
                  hereunder, upon prior written notice to Employee, for "good
                  cause", as determined by the Board of Directors. For purposes
                  of this Agreement, "good cause" for termination of Employee's
                  employment shall exist (A) if Employee is convicted of, pleads
                  guilty to, or confesses to any felony or any act of fraud,
                  misappropriation or

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                  embezzlement, (B) if Employee has engaged in a dishonest act
                  to the damage or prejudice of Employer or an affiliate of
                  Employer, or in conduct or activities materially damaging to
                  the property, business, or reputation of Employer or an
                  affiliate of Employer, (C) if Employee fails to comply with
                  the terms of this Agreement, and, within thirty (30) days
                  after written notice from Employer of such failure, Employee
                  has not corrected such failure or, having once received such
                  notice of failure and having so corrected such failure,
                  Employee at any time thereafter again so fails, or (D) if
                  Employee violates any of the provisions contained in Sections
                  5 of this Agreement; or

         (iii)    The termination of this Agreement by either party upon at
                  least ninety (90) days prior written notice.

                  Section 3         Compensation.

                  3.1      Term of Employment. Employer will provide Employee
with the following salary, expense reimbursement and additional employee
benefits during the term of employment hereunder:

                           (a)      Salary. Employee will be paid a salary (the
                                    "Salary") of no less than Four Hundred
                                    Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($475,000.00)
                                    per annum, less deductions and withholdings
                                    required by applicable law. The Salary shall
                                    be paid to Employee in equal monthly
                                    installments (or on such more frequent basis
                                    as other executives of Employer are
                                    compensated). The Salary shall be reviewed
                                    by the Board of Directors of Employer on at
                                    least an annual basis.


                                    If during the Term of this Agreement the
                                    Board of Directors, in its discretion,
                                    employs a new Chief Executive Officer but
                                    requests that Employee continue to serve as
                                    Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors,
                                    Employee's then current Salary shall be
                                    reduced by fifty percent (50%).


                           (b)      Bonus. Employee will be entitled to an
                                    annual bonus (the "Bonus") of up to 50% of
                                    Salary, which Bonus shall be dependent upon
                                    Employer's financial performance versus
                                    budget and achievement of personal
                                    objectives established for Employee by
                                    Employer. The Bonus shall be paid promptly
                                    upon the availability of annual financial
                                    results (which is expected to occur in early
                                    February of each year).

                           (c)      Car Allowance. Employee shall receive a car
                                    allowance of Seven Hundred Dollars ($700)
                                    per month.


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                           (d)      Expenses. Employer shall reimburse Employee
                                    for all reasonable and necessary expenses
                                    incurred by Employee at the request of and
                                    on behalf of Employer.

                           (e)      Benefit Plans. Employee may participate in
                                    such medical, dental, disability,
                                    hospitalization, life insurance and other
                                    benefit plans (such as pension and profit
                                    sharing plans) as Employer maintains from
                                    time to time for the benefit of other senior
                                    executives of Employer, on the terms and
                                    subject to the conditions set forth in such
                                    plans.

                  3.2      Effect of Termination. Except as hereinafter
provided, upon the termination of the employment of Employee hereunder for any
reason, Employee shall be entitled to all compensation and benefits earned or
accrued under Section 3.1 as of the effective date of termination (the
"Termination Date"), but from and after the Termination Date no additional
compensation or benefits shall be earned by Employee hereunder. Employee shall
be deemed to have earned any Bonus payable with respect to the calendar year in
which the Termination Date occurs on a prorated basis (based on the number of
days in such calendar year through and including the Termination Date divided by
365). Any such Bonus shall be payable on the date on which the Bonus would have
been paid had Employee continued his employment hereunder.

                  If Employee's employment hereunder is terminated by Employer
pursuant to Section 2(b)(iii) hereof, then, in addition to any other amount
payable hereunder, Employer shall continue to pay Employee his normal Salary
pursuant to Section 3.1(a), Employee shall be entitled to receive his normal car
allowance pursuant to Section 3.1 (c) and Employee shall continue to participate
in benefit plans pursuant to Section 3.1 (e) through December 31, 2003 (on the
same basis as if Employee continued to serve as an employee hereunder for such
period).

                  All stock options granted to Employee pursuant to Section 4
hereof shall be governed in accordance with Section 4.2 hereof upon termination
of Employee's employment.

                  3.3      Change of Control. Upon a Change of Control (as
defined herein), Employee shall be entitled to receive a lump-sum payment,
within thirty (30) days of such Change of Control, of two (2) times Employee's
then current Salary. A "Change of Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if
(a) any person or any two or more persons acting as a group (exclusive of Frank
A. Argenbright, Jr.), and all affiliates of such person or persons (a "Group"),
who prior to such time owned less than 50% of the then outstanding shares of
capital stock of Employer, shall acquire shares of capital stock of Employer in
one or more transactions or series of transactions, and after such transaction
or transactions such person or group and affiliates beneficially own 50% or more
of Employer's shares of capital stock, (b) Employer shall sell all or
substantially all of its assets to any Group which, immediately prior to the
time if such transaction, owned less than 50% of the shares of capital stock of
Employer, or (c) Employer shall merge with or consolidate into any Group which,
immediately prior to the time of such transaction, owned less than 50% of the
shares of capital stock of Employer, and shall not be the surviving entity of
such merger or consolidation.


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                  Section 4         Stock Options.

                  4.1      Grant of Stock Options. In recognition of Employee's
contributions to Employer to date, Employee has been granted stock options as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             NUMBER OF
                                   EXERCISE                               SHARES VESTED AT     DATE ON WHICH
                       NUMBER OF     PRICE                                   NOVEMBER 15,    SHARES ARE FULLY
  DATE OF GRANT         SHARES     PER SHARE     EXPIRATION DATE                2000              VESTED
<S>                    <C>         <C>           <C>                         <C>            <C>
October 15, 1996       107,500     $   4.64      October 15, 2006              107,500      December 31, 1996

December 1, 1996       215,000        10.00      December 1, 2006              215,000      December 1, 1999

February 28, 1997        7,500        10.00      February 28, 2007               7,500      February 28, 1999

October 31, 1997       150,000       17.875      October 31, 2007              112,500      October 31, 2001

October 9, 1998        100,000        21.75      October 9, 2008                50,000      October 9, 2002

October 9, 1998        200,000        21.75      October 9, 2008               100,000      October 9, 2002

May 14, 1999           150,000       25.375      May 14, 2009                   37,500      May 14, 2003

October 28, 1999        25,000      20.6875      October 28, 2009                6,250      October 28, 2003

May 9, 2000             35,000       8.8125      May 9, 2010                        --      May 9, 2004

July 11, 2000           25,000        6.875      July 11, 2010                      --      July 11, 2004
</TABLE>


                  The number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of
options granted to Employee by Employer and the exercise price of such options
shall be automatically adjusted to reflect any change in the capitalization of
Employer, including, but not limited to, such changes as stock dividends, stock
splits or recapitalizations. If any adjustment under this Section would create
the right of Employee to acquire a fractional share of stock, such fractional
share shall be disregarded and the number of shares of common stock subject to
the options shall be the next lower number of whole shares of common stock,
rounding all fractions downward.

                  4.2      Termination of Employment. The grant of stock options
to Employee by Employer shall not restrict or in any manner affect Employer's
right to terminate the employment of Employee at any time, with or without
cause, as herein provided.

                           (a)      In the case of a termination pursuant to
                                    Section 2(b)(i), the options granted to
                                    Employee by Employer prior to such
                                    termination shall immediately become
                                    exercisable on such termination. The options
                                    will expire in accordance with their
                                    respective scheduled expiration dates.


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                           (b)      Upon the death of Employee, any options
                                    which Employee would otherwise be entitled
                                    to exercise may be exercised by his personal
                                    representatives or heirs, as applicable.


                           (c)      If Employee's employment is terminated by
                                    Employer pursuant to Section 2(b)(iii), the
                                    options granted to Employee by Employer
                                    prior to such termination shall vest in
                                    accordance with their respective scheduled
                                    vesting dates through December 31, 2003, and
                                    options that have not vested as of such date
                                    shall expire. The options shall be
                                    exercisable for a period ending the later of
                                    (1) December 31, 2003 or (2) one year after
                                    such termination, and, after such later
                                    date, all unexercised options will expire.


                           (d)      If Employee's employment is terminated by
                                    Employer pursuant to Section 2(b)(ii) or by
                                    Employee pursuant to Section 2(b)(iii), the
                                    options which are exercisable as of the date
                                    of termination shall be exercisable for a
                                    period of one year after such termination.
                                    After such one year period, all unexercised
                                    options will expire.

                  4.3      Exercise. The options granted by Employer to Employee
may be exercised by Employee upon five business days' written notice of exercise
to Employer, specifying the number of shares to be purchased and the total
purchase price, accompanied by a check to the order of Employer, in the payment
of such price. The exercise price of such options shall be payable in cash only.
If Employer is required to withhold on account of any present or future tax
imposed as result of any option exercise, the notice of exercise shall be
accompanied by a check to the order of Employer for payment of the amount of
such withholding. Employee agrees to enter into any appropriate agreement or
deliver any appropriate certificate or other such document that Employer may
reasonably request in connection with the exercise of any options to ensure that
the exercise complies with all applicable securities laws.

                  4.4      Nontransferable. No option granted by Employer to
Employee shall be transferable by Employee other than by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution, and such options shall be exercisable during
Employee's lifetime only by Employee. The options shall not be otherwise
transferred, assigned, pledged, hypothecated or disposed of in any way, whether
by operation of law or otherwise.

                  4.5      Non-Incentive Options. The options granted by
Employer to Employee are not intended to be, and shall not be treated as,
incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended.

                  Section 5         Partial Restraint on Post-termination
                                    Competition.

                  5.1      Definitions. For the purposes of this Section 5, the
following definitions shall apply:


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                           (a)      "Company Activities" means the business of
                                    providing security services, including,
                                    without limitation, contractual security
                                    services, investigative services, polygraph
                                    services and pre-employment testing and/or
                                    screening or providing transportation,
                                    including but not limited to guided bus
                                    tours, but excluding transportation or
                                    ground handling relating to aviation
                                    services.

                           (b)      "Competitor" means any business, individual,
                                    partnership, joint venture, association,
                                    firm, corporation or other entity, other
                                    than the Employer or its affiliates or
                                    subsidiaries, engaged, wholly or partly, in
                                    Company Activities.

                           (c)      "Competitive Position" means (i) the direct
                                    or indirect ownership or control of all or
                                    any portion of a Competitor; or (ii) any
                                    employment or independent contractor
                                    arrangement with any Competitor whereby
                                    Employee will serve such Competitor in any
                                    managerial capacity.

                           (d)      "Confidential Information" means any
                                    confidential, proprietary business
                                    information or data belonging to or
                                    pertaining to Employer that does not
                                    constitute a "Trade Secret" (as hereinafter
                                    defined) and that is not generally known by
                                    or available through legal means to the
                                    public, including, but not limited to,
                                    information regarding Employer's customers
                                    or actively sought prospective customers,
                                    suppliers, manufacturers and distributors
                                    gained by Employee as a result of his
                                    employment with Employer.

                           (e)      "Customer" means actual customers or
                                    actively sought prospective customers of
                                    Employer during the Term.

                           (f)      "Noncompete Period" or "Nonsolicitation
                                    Period" means the period beginning the date
                                    hereof and ending on the second anniversary
                                    of the termination of Employee's employment
                                    with Employer.

                           (g)      "Territory" means the United States of
                                    America and Europe.

                           (h)      "Trade Secrets" means information or data of
                                    or about Employer, including but not limited
                                    to technical or non-technical data,
                                    formulas, patterns, compilations, programs,
                                    devices, methods, techniques, drawings,
                                    processes, financial data, financial plans,
                                    products plans, or lists of actual or
                                    potential customers, clients, distributees
                                    or licensees, information concerning
                                    Employer's finances, services, staff,
                                    contemplated acquisitions, marketing
                                    investigations and surveys, that (i) derive
                                    economic value, actual


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                                    or potential, from not being generally known
                                    to, and not being readily ascertainable by
                                    proper means by, other persons who can
                                    obtain economic value from their disclosure
                                    or use; and (ii) are the subject of efforts
                                    that are reasonable under the circumstances
                                    to maintain their secrecy.

                           (i)      "Work Product" means any and all work
                                    product, property, data documentation or
                                    information of any kind, prepared,
                                    conceived, discovered, developed or created
                                    by Employee for Employer or its affiliates,
                                    or any of Employer's or its affiliates'
                                    clients or customers.

                  5.2      Trade Name and Confidential Information.

                           (a)      Employee hereby agrees that (i) with regard
                                    to each item constituting all or any portion
                                    of the Trade Secrets, at all times during
                                    the Term and all times during which such
                                    item continues to constitute a Trade Secret
                                    under applicable law; and (ii) with regard
                                    to any Confidential Information, during the
                                    Term and the Noncompete Period:

                                    (i)      Employee shall not, directly or by
                                             assisting others, own, manage,
                                             operate, join, control or
                                             participate in the ownership,
                                             management, operation or control
                                             of, or be connected in any manner
                                             with, any business conducted under
                                             any corporate or trade name of
                                             Employer or name similar thereto,
                                             without the prior written consent
                                             of Employer;

                                    (ii)     Employee shall hold in confidence
                                             all Trade Secrets and all
                                             Confidential Information and will
                                             not, either directly or indirectly,
                                             use, sell, lend, lease, distribute,
                                             license, give, transfer, assign,
                                             show, disclose, disseminate,
                                             reproduce, copy, appropriate or
                                             otherwise communicate any Trade
                                             Secrets or Confidential
                                             Information, without the prior
                                             written consent of Employer; and

                                    (iii)    Employee shall immediately notify
                                             Employer of any unauthorized
                                             disclosure or use of any Trade
                                             Secrets or Confidential Information
                                             of which Employee becomes aware.
                                             Employee shall assist Employer, to
                                             the extent necessary, in the
                                             procurement or any protection of
                                             Employer's rights to or in any of
                                             the Trade Secrets or Confidential
                                             Information.


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                           (b)      Upon the request of Employer and, in any
                                    event, upon the termination of Employee's
                                    employment with Employer, Employee shall
                                    deliver to Employer all memoranda, notes,
                                    records, manuals and other documents,
                                    including all copies of such materials and
                                    all documentation prepared or produced in
                                    connection therewith, pertaining to the
                                    performance of Employee's services hereunder
                                    or Employer's business or containing Trade
                                    Secrets or Confidential Information, whether
                                    made or compiled by Employee or furnished to
                                    Employee from another source by virtue of
                                    Employee's employment with Employer.

                           (c)      To the greatest extent possible, all Work
                                    Product shall be deemed to be "work made for
                                    hire" (as defined in the Copyright Act, 17
                                    U.S.C.A. ss.ss. 101 et seq., as amended) and
                                    owned exclusively by Employer. Employee
                                    hereby unconditionally and irrevocably
                                    transfers and assigns to Employer all
                                    rights, title and interest Employee may have
                                    in or to any and all Work Product,
                                    including, without limitation, all patents,
                                    copyrights, trademarks, service marks and
                                    other intellectual property rights. Employee
                                    agrees to execute and deliver to Employer
                                    any transfers, assignments, documents or
                                    other instruments which Employer may deem
                                    necessary or appropriate to vest complete
                                    title and ownership of any and all Work
                                    Product, and all rights therein, exclusively
                                    in Employer.

                  5.3      Noncompetition.

                           (a)      The parties hereto acknowledge that Employee
                                    is conducting Company Activities throughout
                                    the Territory. Employee acknowledges that to
                                    protect adequately the interest of Employer
                                    in the business of Employer it is essential
                                    that any noncompete covenant with respect
                                    thereto cover all Company Activities and the
                                    entire Territory.

                           (b)      Employee hereby agrees that, during the Term
                                    and the Noncompete Period, Employee will
                                    not, in the Territory, either directly or
                                    indirectly, alone or in conjunction with any
                                    other party, accept, enter into or take any
                                    action in conjunction with or in furtherance
                                    of a Competitive Position. Employee shall
                                    notify Employer promptly in writing if
                                    Employee receives an offer of a Competitive
                                    Position during the Noncompete Term, and
                                    such notice shall describe all material
                                    terms of such offer.

                  Nothing contained in this Section 5 shall prohibit Employee
from acquiring not more than five percent (5%) of any company whose common stock
is publicly traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter
market.


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                  5.4      Nonsolicitation During Employment Term. Employee
hereby agrees that Employee will not, during the Term, either directly or
indirectly, alone or in conjunction with any other party:

                           (a)      solicit, divert or appropriate or attempt to
                                    solicit, divert or appropriate, any Customer
                                    for the purpose of providing the Customer
                                    with services or products competitive with
                                    those offered by Employer during the Term;
                                    or

                           (b)      solicit or attempt to solicit any employee,
                                    consultant, contractor or other personnel of
                                    Employer or any of its affiliates or
                                    subsidiaries to terminate, alter or lessen
                                    that party's affiliation with Employer or
                                    such affiliate or subsidiary or to violate
                                    the terms of any agreement or understanding
                                    between such employee, consultant,
                                    contractor or other person and Employer.

                  5.5      Nonsolicitation During Nonsolicitation Period.
Employee hereby agrees that Employee will not, during the Nonsolicitation
Period, either directly or indirectly, alone or in conjunction with any other
party:

                           (a)      solicit, divert or appropriate or attempt to
                                    solicit, divert or appropriate, any Customer
                                    for the purpose of providing the Customer
                                    with services or products competitive with
                                    those offered by Employer during the Term;
                                    provided, however, that the covenant in this
                                    clause shall limit Employee's conduct only
                                    with respect to those Customers with whom
                                    Employee had substantial contact (through
                                    direct or supervisory interaction with the
                                    Customer or the Customer's account) during a
                                    period of time up to but no greater than two
                                    (2) years prior to the last day of the Term;
                                    or

                           (b)      solicit or attempt to solicit any "key"
                                    employee, consultant, contractor or other
                                    personnel of Employer or any of its
                                    affiliates or subsidiaries residing at the
                                    time of the solicitation in the Territory to
                                    terminate, alter or lessen that party's
                                    affiliation with Employer or such affiliate
                                    or subsidiary or to violate the terms of any
                                    agreement or understanding between such
                                    employee, consultant, contractor or other
                                    person and Employer. For purposes of this
                                    clause (b), "key" employees, consultants,
                                    contractors, or other personnel are those
                                    with knowledge of or access to Trade Secrets
                                    and Confidential Information.

                  Section 6         Miscellaneous.


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                  6.1      Severability. The covenants in this Agreement shall
be construed as covenants independent of one another and as obligations distinct
from any other contract between Employee and Employer. Any claim that Employee
may have against Employer shall not constitute a defense to enforcement by
Employer of this Agreement.

                  6.2      Survival of Obligations. The covenants in Section 5
of this Agreement shall survive termination of Employee's employment, regardless
of who causes the termination and under what circumstances.

                  6.3      Notices. Any notice or other document to be given
hereunder by any party hereto to any other party hereto shall be in writing and
delivered in person or by courier, by telecopy transmission or sent by any
express mail service, postage or fees prepaid at the following addresses:

                  Employer

                           AHL Services, Inc.
                           Atlanta Financial Center
                           3353 Peachtree Road, NE
                           Suite 1120, North Tower
                           Atlanta, Georgia   30326
                           Attention: Mr. F.A. Argenbright, Jr.
                                        Chairman
                           Telecopy No.: (404) 267-2230

                  Employee

                           Mr. Edwin R. Mellett
                           c/o AHL Services, Inc.
                           Atlanta Financial Center
                           3353 Peachtree Road, NE
                           Suite 1120, North Tower
                           Atlanta, Georgia 30326
                           Telecopy No.: (404) 267-2230

or at such other address or number for a party as shall be specified by like
notice. Any notice which is delivered in the manner provided herein shall be
deemed to have been duly given to the party to whom it is directed upon actual
receipt by such party or its agent.

                  6.4      Binding Effect. This Agreement inures to the benefit
of, and is binding upon, Employer and their respective successors and assigns,
and Employee, together with Employee's executor, administrator, personal
representative, heirs, and legatees.

                  6.5      Entire Agreement This Agreement is intended by the
parties hereto to be the final expression of their agreement with respect to the
subject matter hereof and is the complete and exclusive statement of the terms
thereof, notwithstanding any representations,


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statements or agreements to the contrary heretofore made. This Agreement
supersedes and terminates all prior employment and compensation agreements,
arrangements and understandings between or among Employer and Employee
(including, without limitation, the Employment Agreement, dated December 1,
1996, between Argenbright Holdings Limited, The ADI Group and Employee, the
Employment Agreement, dated November 28, 2000, between Employer and Employee,
the Long Term Incentive Agreement, dated February 15, 1995, between Argenbright
Holdings Limited and Employee, and, as of the Effective Date, the Restated
Employment Agreement, dated February 1, 1997, between Employer and Employee).
This Agreement may be modified only by a written instrument signed by all of the
parties hereto.

                  6.6      Governing Law. This Agreement shall be deemed to be
made in, and in all respects shall be interpreted, construed, and governed by
and in accordance with, the laws of the State of Georgia. No provision of this
Agreement shall be construed against or interpreted to the disadvantage of any
party hereto by any court or other governmental or judicial authority or by any
board of arbitrators by reason of such party or its counsel having or being
deemed to have structured or drafted such provision.

                  6.7      Headings. The section and paragraph headings
contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect
in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

                  6.8      Specific Performance. Each party hereto hereby agrees
that any remedy at law for any breach of the provisions contained in this
Agreement shall be inadequate and that the other parties hereto shall be
entitled to specific performance and any other appropriate injunctive relief in
addition to any other remedy such party might have under this Agreement or at
law or in equity.

                  6.9      Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two
or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of
which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.


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                  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this
Agreement as of the date first above written.


                                    AHL SERVICES, INC.


                                    By:
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                           F.A. Argenbright, Jr.
                                             Vice Chairman


                                    EMPLOYEE



                                    -------------------------------------------
                                    Edwin R. Mellett


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