Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 10.6

                         TRUE NORTH COMMUNICATIONS INC.

                           DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

                           (Effective April 1, 1999)
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                        TRUE NORTH COMMUNICATIONS INC.
                          DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

                      ARTICLE I - PURPOSE; EFFECTIVE DATE
                                  -----------------------

1.1.  Purpose. The purpose of the True North Communications Inc. Deferred
      Compensation Plan (hereinafter, the "Plan") is to permit a select group of
      management or highly compensated employees of True North Communications
      Inc. and its participating subsidiaries to defer the receipt of income
      which would otherwise become payable to them and to provide additional
      deferred compensation through company contributions. In addition, it is
      intended that certain obligations undertaken in several predecessor non-
      qualified plans established by the Company, its predecessor companies or
      affiliates, be incorporated into the operation of this plan for
      administrative ease and consistency of benefits. It is intended that this
      Plan, by providing this deferral opportunity, will assist the in retaining
      and attracting individuals of exceptional ability by providing them with
      these benefits.

1.2.  Effective Date.  The Plan shall be effective as of April 1, 1999.

                            ARTICLE II - DEFINITIONS
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For the purpose of this Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

2.1.  Account(s). "Account(s)" means the account or accounts maintained on the
      books of the Company used solely to calculate the amount payable to each
      Participant under this Plan and shall not constitute a separate fund of
      assets. The Accounts available for each Participant shall be identified as
      the Retirement Account and the In-Service Account. In addition, there
      shall be an Interest Rate Subaccount within the Retirement Account to
      account for certain Rollover Amounts and Discretionary Contributions that
      are to be credited with Interest based on a rate of interest determined by
      the Committee.

2.2.  Beneficiary. "Beneficiary" means the person, persons or entity as
      designated by the Participant, entitled under Article VI to receive any
      Plan benefits payable after the Participant's death.

2.3.  Board.  "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company or the
      Compensation Committee thereof.

2.4.  Code.  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
      time to time.

2.5.  Committee. "Committee" means the Administrative Committee of the Company,
      which has been appointed by the Board to administer the Company's employee
      benefit plans, including the Plan.

2.6.  Company.  "Company" means True North Communications Inc., a Delaware
      corporation, and
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       any directly or indirectly affiliated subsidiary corporations any of
       whose employees are designated as eligible to participate in the Plan.

2.7.   Compensation.  "Compensation" means the base salary payable to and bonus
       or incentive compensation earned by a Participant with respect to
       employment services performed for the Company by the Participant and
       considered to be "wages" for purposes of federal income tax withholding.
       For purposes of this Plan, Compensation shall be calculated before
       reduction for any amounts deferred by the Participant pursuant to the
       Company's tax-qualified plans which may be maintained under Section
       401(k) or Section 125 of the Code or pursuant to this Plan or any other
       non-qualified plan which permits the voluntary deferral of compensation.
       Inclusion of any other forms of compensation is subject to Committee
       approval.

2.8.   Deferral Commitment.  "Deferral Commitment" means a commitment made by a
       Participant to defer a portion of Compensation as set forth in Article
       III. The Deferral Commitment shall apply to salary and/or bonus payable
       to the Participant, and shall specify the Account or Accounts to which
       the Compensation deferred shall be allocated. Such allocation shall be
       made in whole percentages or stated dollar amounts and shall be made in a
       form acceptable to the Committee. A Deferral Commitment shall remain in
       effect until amended or revoked as provided under Section 3.2(d) below.

2.9.   Deferral Period.  "Deferral Period" means each calendar year, except that
       the initial Deferral Period shall be May 1, 1999 through and including
       December 31, 1999.

2.10.  Determination Date.  "Determination Date" means the last day of each
       calendar month.

2.11.  Disability.  "Disability" means total and permanent disability, as
       defined in the Company's long-term disability plan, as it may be amended
       from time to time, and as interpreted by the Committee in its sole and
       absolute discretion.

2.12.  Discretionary Contribution.  "Discretionary Contribution" means the
       Company profit sharing contribution or other discretionary contribution
       credited to a Participant's Account(s) under Section 4.6 below.

2.13.  Distribution Election.  "Distribution Election" means the election by a
       Participant as to the timing and/or form of payment of benefits payable
       from each Account under this Plan, on a form prescribed by the Committee
       for this purpose and completed by the Participant.

2.14.  ERISA.  "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
       1974, as amended from time to time.

2.15.  Excess 401(k) Amount.  "Excess 401(k) Amount" means the amount of
       Compensation which the Participant has elected to be deferred under the
       provisions of the 401(k) Plan, but which cannot be contributed to the
       401(k) Plan on behalf of the Participant due to the fact that salary and
       bonus deferrals under this Plan are not treated as compensation under the
       401(k) Plan and/or due to the limitations imposed by Code Sections
       401(a)(30), 402(g)(1), 401(a)(17), 415(c)(1) or any other limitations
       under the Code or the provisions of the 401(k) Plan. The

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       maximum amount that can be contributed to the 401(k) Plan due to these
       restrictions is hereinafter referred to as "Maximum 401(k) Amount." It is
       recognized that for purposes of the 401(k) Plan the definition of
       "compensation" will most likely be more restrictive than the definition
       under this Plan and that the calculation of the amount elected to be
       deferred into the 401(k) Plan, the Maximum 401(k) Amount, and the Excess
       401(k) Amount shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of
       the 401(k) Plan. For purposes of this Plan, in determining the Excess
       401(k) Amount, the election with respect to the amount of compensation to
       be deferred into the 401(k) Plan in effect at the time that the
       Participant achieves the Maximum 401(k) Amount shall be deemed to
       continue in effect for the balance of the applicable Deferral Period.

2.16.  Financial Hardship. "Financial Hardship" means a severe financial
       hardship of the Participant resulting from a sudden and unexpected
       illness or accident of the Participant or of a dependent of the
       Participant, loss of the Participant's property due to casualty, or other
       similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstance arising as a result
       of events beyond the control of the Participant. Financial Hardship shall
       be determined based upon such standards as are, from time to time,
       established by the Committee, and such determination shall be in the sole
       discretion of the Committee.

2.17.  401(k) Plan. "401(k) Plan" means the Company retirement plan in which the
       Participant participates which is tax-qualified under Section 401(a) of
       the Code and satisfies the requirements of Section 401(k) of the Code. As
       of the effective date of the Plan, the applicable tax-qualified plans
       include the True North Communications Inc. Retirement Plan and the True
       North Communications Inc. Profit Sharing and Savings Plan for BJK&E, each
       as may be amended from time to time.

2.18.  Interest. "Interest" means the amount credited to or deducted from a
       Participant's Retirement and In-Service Accounts on each Determination
       Date. Amounts credited to or deducted from a Participant's Retirement and
       In-Service Accounts shall be based on the Valuation Funds chosen by the
       Participant as provided in Section 2.25 below and in a manner consistent
       with Section 4.3 below. Such credits to a Participant's Retirement and
       In-Service Accounts may be either positive or negative to reflect the
       increase or decrease in the applicable Valuation Funds. Notwithstanding
       the foregoing, amounts credited to the Interest Rate Subaccount within
       the Retirement Account shall be based on a rate of interest set and
       declared by the Committee in its sole discretion from time to time.

2.19.  Matching Contribution. "Matching Contribution" means the Company
       contribution credited to a Participant's Retirement Account under Section
       4.5 below.

2.20.  Participant. "Participant" means any employee who is eligible pursuant to
       Section 3.1 below to participate in this Plan, and who has elected to
       defer Compensation under this Plan in accordance with Article III below.
       Such employee shall remain a Participant in this Plan for the period of
       deferral and until such time as all benefits payable under this Plan have
       been paid in accordance with the provisions hereof.

2.21.  Plan.  "Plan" means this True North Communications Inc. Deferred
       Compensation Plan, as

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       amended from time to time.

2.22.  Predecessor Plan. "Predecessor Plan" means those plans maintained by the
       Company, or its predecessor entities, established to be non-qualified
       deferred compensation plans for a select group of management or highly
       compensated employees. These Plans specifically include the Bozell,
       Jacobs, Kenyon & Eckhardt, Inc. Executive Wealth Accumulation Plan (the
       "EWAP"), the Foote, Cone & Belding Communications, Inc. Stock Purchase
       Integration Plan, (the "SPIP"), and the Foote, Cone & Belding
       Communications, Inc. Profit Sharing Integration Plan, (the "PSIP") along
       with any other plan or program designated by the Committee.

2.23.  Retirement.  "Retirement" means a Participant's termination of employment
       with the Company after attaining age 55.

2.24.  Rollover Amount. "Rollover Amount" means the amount determined by the
       Committee in its sole discretion to represent the balance of the
       obligation to specifically named Participants under a Predecessor Plan,
       which is to be added to an Account in this Plan. It is intended that the
       Rollover Amount shall be determined in accordance with the terms of the
       applicable Predecessor Plan. Such Rollover Amount shall be determined by
       the Committee and added to the appropriate Account under this Plan as of
       the later of the effective date of this Plan or the date that the
       Participant first becomes eligible to participate in this Plan.

2.25.  Valuation Funds. "Valuation Funds" means one or more of the independently
       established funds or indices that are identified and listed by the
       Committee. These Valuation Funds are used solely to calculate the
       Interest that is credited to each Participant's Retirement and In-Service
       Accounts in accordance with Article IV below, and does not represent nor
       should it be interpreted to convey any beneficial interest on the part of
       the Participant in any asset or other property of the Company. The
       determination of the increase or decrease in the performance of each
       Valuation Fund shall be made by the Committee in its reasonable
       discretion. The Committee shall select the various Valuation Funds
       available to the Participants with respect to this Plan.

                  ARTICLE III - ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
                                -----------------------------

3.1.  Eligibility and Participation.

      a)  Eligibility. Eligibility to participate in the Plan shall be limited
          to those select key employees of the Company who are designated by
          management from time to time and approved by the Committee.

      b)  Participation. An employee's participation in the Plan shall be
          effective upon notification to the employee by the Committee of
          eligibility to participate, and completion, submission of a Deferral
          Commitment and a Distribution Election form to the Committee no later
          than 30 days prior to the beginning of the Deferral Period.

      c)  First-Year Participation. When an individual first becomes eligible to
          participate

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          during a Deferral Period, a Deferral Commitment may be
          submitted to the Committee within 30 days after the Committee notifies
          the individual of eligibility to participate. Such Deferral Commitment
          will be effective only with regard to Compensation earned and payable
          following submission of the Deferral Commitment to the Committee.

3.2.  Form of Deferral.  A Participant may elect a Deferral Commitment as
      follows:

      a)  Salary Deferral Commitment. A Deferral Commitment shall be made with
          respect to salary payable by the Company to a Participant during the
          immediately succeeding Deferral Period, and shall designate the
          portion of each deferral that shall be allocated among the Retirement
          and In-Service Accounts. The Participant shall set forth the amount to
          be deferred as either a full percentage of salary payable (the
          Participant may designate a different percentage of salary and bonus
          that is to be deferred under this Plan), or as a stated dollar amount.
          Salary Deferral Commitments shall be made in roughly equal amounts
          over the calendar year. The salary Deferral Commitment shall specify
          the Participant's initial allocation of the amounts deferred into each
          Account among the various available Valuation Funds.

      b)  Bonus Deferral Commitment. A Deferral Commitment shall be made with
          respect to each payment of bonus or incentive compensation payable by
          the Company to a Participant with respect to services performed during
          the immediately succeeding Deferral Period, and shall designate the
          portion of each deferral that shall be allocated among the Retirement
          and In-Service Accounts. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for a
          Participant's initial Deferral Period under the Plan, his or her bonus
          Deferral Commitment may apply to bonuses earned for the calendar year
          in which such Deferral Commitment is made, provided that the amount of
          such bonus remains substantially uncertain as of the time such
          Deferral Commitment is submitted. The Participant shall set forth the
          amount to be deferred as either a full percentage of bonus or
          incentive compensation payable (the Participant may designate a
          different percentage of salary and bonus that is to be deferred under
          this Plan), as a stated dollar amount, or as a percentage of the bonus
          payable in excess of a stated amount. The Deferral Commitment shall
          specify the Participant's initial allocation of the amounts deferred
          into each Account among the various available Valuation Funds.

      c)  Excess 401(k) Amount. A Deferral Commitment shall be made with respect
          to Excess 401(k) Amounts, if any, as defined in Section 2.15 above.
          Any Excess 401(k) Amounts so deferred shall be deferred into the
          Retirement Account.

      d)  Period of Commitment. Once a Participant has made a Deferral
          Commitment, that Commitment shall remain in effect for that Deferral
          Period and shall remain in effect for all future Deferral Periods
          unless revoked or amended in writing by the Participant and delivered
          to the Committee no later than 30 days prior to the beginning of a
          subsequent Deferral Period.

3.3.  Maximum Deferral Commitments. The maximum amount of each payment of base
      salary that may be deferred into this Plan shall be 50% of base salary,
      and the maximum amount of

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      each payment of bonus or incentive compensation that may be deferred into
      this Plan shall be 100% of bonus or incentive compensation.

3.4.  Commitment Limited by Termination. If a Participant terminates employment
      with the Company prior to the end of the Deferral Period, the Deferral
      Period shall end as of the date of such termination.

3.5.  Modification of Deferral Commitment. Except as provided in Section 5.5
      below, a Deferral Commitment shall be irrevocable by the Participant
      during a Deferral Period.

3.6.  Change in Employment Status. If the Committee determines that a
      Participant's employment performance is no longer at a level that warrants
      reward through participation in this Plan, but does not terminate the
      Participant's employment with the Company, the Participant's existing
      Deferral Commitment shall terminate at the end of the Deferral Period, and
      no new Deferral Commitment may be made by such Participant after notice of
      such determination is given by the Committee, unless the Participant later
      satisfies the requirements of Section 3.1 above. If the Committee, in its
      sole discretion, determines that the Participant no longer qualifies as a
      member of a select group of management or highly compensated employees, as
      determined in accordance with ERISA, the Committee may in its sole
      discretion terminate any Deferral Commitment for that year, prohibit the
      Participant from making any future Deferral Commitments and/or distribute
      the Participant's Account balances in accordance with Article V below as
      if the Participant had terminated employment with the Company as of that
      time.

      ARTICLE IV - DEFERRED COMPENSATION ACCOUNTS; COMPANY CONTRIBUTIONS
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4.1.  Accounts. The Rollover Amounts, the Compensation deferred by a Participant
      under the Plan, any Matching Contributions, Discretionary Contributions,
      Excess 401(k) Amounts and Interest shall be credited to the Participant's
      various Account(s). Separate accounts may be maintained to reflect the
      different Accounts chosen by the Participant, and the Participant shall
      designate the portion of each deferral that will be credited to each
      Account, as set forth in Section 3.2(a), (b) and (c). These Accounts shall
      be used solely to calculate the amount payable to each Participant under
      this Plan and shall not constitute a separate fund of assets.

4.2.  Timing of Credits; Withholding. A Participant's Deferred Compensation, if
      any, shall be credited to each Account designated by the Participant on
      the last day of the month during which the Compensation deferred would
      have otherwise been payable to the Participant. Excess 401(k) Amounts and
      Matching Contributions, if any, shall be credited to the Participant's
      Retirement Account on the last day of the month during which the
      Compensation deferred to which the Excess 401(k) Amount or Matching
      Contribution relates, was credited to an Account. Any Discretionary
      Contributions shall be credited to the appropriate Account(s) as provided
      by the Committee. Any Rollover Amounts shall be credited to the
      appropriate Account(s) as set forth below in Section 4.4 as an initial
      balance in the appropriate Account(s) as of the later of the later of the
      effective date of this Plan or the date that the Participant first becomes
      eligible to participate in this Plan. Any withholding of taxes or other
      amounts with

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      respect to deferred Compensation that is required by local, state or
      federal law shall be withheld from the Participant's corresponding non-
      deferred portion of the Compensation to the maximum extent possible, and
      any remaining amount shall reduce the amount credited to the Participant's
      Account in a manner specified by the Committee.

4.3.  Valuation Funds. A Participant shall designate, at a time and in a manner
      acceptable to the Committee, one or more Valuation Funds for the
      Retirement and/or In-Service Account(s) for the sole purpose of
      determining the manner by which Interest shall be credited to or deducted
      from such Account. Such election shall designate the portion of each
      deferral of Compensation made into the Retirement and In-Service Accounts
      that shall be allocated among the available Valuation Fund(s), and such
      election shall apply to each succeeding deferral of Compensation until
      such time as the Participant shall file a new election with the Committee.
      Upon notice to the Committee, the Participant may also reallocate the
      balance in each Valuation Fund among the other available Valuation Funds
      as of the next succeeding Determination Date, but in no event shall such
      re-allocation occur more frequently than quarterly.

4.4.  Rollover Amounts. The Company may credit a Rollover Amount to the
      Participant's Account(s) in an amount determined by the Committee in
      accordance with the appropriate Predecessor Plan as stated in Section 2.24
      above. Any Rollover Amount designated as being in relation to the EWAP
      Predecessor Plan may be credited to the Retirement or the In-Service
      Accounts at the direction of the Participant. Any Rollover Amount
      designated as being in relation to the SPIP or PSIP Predecessor Plans will
      be credited to the Interest Rate Subaccount within the Retirement Account.

4.5.  Matching Contributions. The Company may credit Matching Contributions to
      the Participant's Retirement Account in an amount to be determined by the
      Committee in relation to the Compensation deferred by the Participant
      under this Plan during a Deferral Period. As of the effective date of this
      Plan, Matching Contributions for each Deferral Period shall equal the
      lesser of (1) one hundred percent (100%) of the amounts deferred by the
      Participant for that Deferral Period under Section 3.2 above or (2) three
      and one-third percent (3-1/3%) of the Participant's Compensation for such
      Deferral Period, in either case minus the matching contributions made on
      the Participant's behalf for that Deferral Period under the 401(k) Plan.

4.6.  Profit-Sharing and Other Discretionary Contributions. The Company may make
      Discretionary Contributions to a Participant's Accounts. Discretionary
      Contributions shall be credited at such times, in such amounts and to such
      Accounts as recommended by the Committee and approved by the Compensation
      Committee of the Board or the full Board. As of the effective date of this
      Plan, the Company shall make Discretionary Contributions in the form of
      profit-sharing contributions on behalf of certain designated eligible
      Participants as follows: For each Deferral Period, an eligible
      Participant's profit-sharing contribution shall be an amount equal to (a)
      minus (b), where:

      a)  equals the profit-sharing contribution that would have been allocated
          to the Participant under the 401(k) Plan for such Deferral Period if
          the "Retirement Plan Limits" did not apply and if the amounts deferred
          by the Participant pursuant to

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          Section 3.2 were treated as compensation under the 401(k) Plan; and

      b)  equals the actual profit-sharing contribution allocated to the
          Participant under the 401(k) Plan for such Deferral Period.

      For purposes of (a) above, "Retirement Plan Limits" means the limitation
      imposed by Section 415 of the Code on allocations to Participants'
      accounts under the 401(k) Plan and the limitation imposed by Section
      401(a)(17) of the Code on the amount of a Participant's annual
      compensation that may be taken into account under the 401(k) Plan. These
      profit-sharing Discretionary Contributions shall be credited to a
      Participant's Interest Rate Subaccount within the Retirement Account at or
      as soon as practicable after the time profit-sharing contributions are
      credited to such Participant's account(s) under the 401(k) Plan.

4.7.  Determination of Accounts. Each Participant's Account as of each
      Determination Date shall consist of the balance of the Account as of the
      immediately preceding Determination Date, adjusted as follows:

      a)  New Deferrals. The Retirement and In-Service Accounts shall be
          increased by any deferred Compensation, if any, credited since such
          prior Determination Date in the proportion chosen by the Participant.

      b)  Company Contributions. The Retirement Account shall be increased by
          any Matching Contribution, Excess 401(k) Amounts, and/or Discretionary
          Contributions credited since such prior Determination Date; provided
          that profit-sharing Discretionary Contributions under Section 4.6
          shall be credited to the Interest Rate Subaccount within the
          Retirement Account. Rollover Amounts shall be treated as initial
          balances in the Retirement and/or In-Service Accounts, as applicable.

      c)  Distributions. Each Account shall be reduced by the amount of each
          benefit payment made from that Account since the prior Determination
          Date. Distributions from the Retirement and In-Service Accounts shall
          be deemed to have been made proportionally from each of the Valuation
          Funds maintained within such Account based on the proportion that such
          Valuation Fund bears to the sum of all Valuation Funds maintained
          within such Account for that Participant as of the Determination Date
          immediately preceding the date of payment.

      d)  Interest. The Retirement and the in-Service Accounts shall be
          increased or decreased by the Interest credited to such Accounts since
          such Determination Date as though the balance of that Account as of
          the beginning of the current month had been invested in the applicable
          Valuation Funds chosen by the Participant. The Interest Rate
          Subaccount within the Retirement Account shall be increased by the
          Interest credited to such Account since such prior Determination Date
          based on the interest rate established by the Committee.

4.8.  Vesting of Accounts. Subject to the right of the Committee to impose
      vesting restrictions with respect to future Matching and/or Discretionary
      Contributions, all amounts credited to a

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      Participant's Accounts and Interest thereon shall be 100% vested.

4.9.  Statement of Accounts. The Committee shall give to each Participant a
      statement showing the balances in the Participant's Accounts on no less
      than an annual basis.

                           ARTICLE V - PLAN BENEFITS
                                       -------------

5.1.  Retirement Account. The balance of a Participant's Retirement Account
      shall be distributed to the Participant upon his or her termination of
      employment with the Company. Benefits under this Section shall be payable
      as soon as administratively practical after termination of employment. The
      form of benefit payment shall be that form selected by the Participant
      pursuant to Section 5.6 below, except that if the Participant terminates
      employment with the Company prior to Retirement, the full amount of the
      Retirement Account shall be paid in a lump sum.

5.2.  In-Service Account. Subject to the remainder of this Section 5.2, the
      balance of a Participant's In-Service Account shall be distributed to the
      Participant upon the date chosen by the Participant in his or her
      Distribution Election that corresponds to his or her first Deferral
      Commitment which designates a portion of the Compensation deferred be
      allocated to the In-Service Account; provided, however, that the date of
      payment commencement under this Section shall be no earlier than the third
      anniversary of the Participant's initial deferral into the In-Service
      Account. The Participant may subsequently amend the intended date of
      payment to a date later than that date initially chosen by filing a new
      Distribution Election with the Committee no later than 24 months prior to
      the initially-chosen date of payment. The Participant may file this
      amendment to defer the receipt of benefits under this Section only twice,
      and each new Distribution Election must provide for a pay-out at a date
      later than the election in force immediately prior to filing such new
      election. The form of benefit payment shall be that form selected by the
      Participant pursuant to Section 5.6 below. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
      if the Participant terminates employment with the Company prior to the
      date so chosen (or as subsequently amended) by the Participant, the
      balance of the In-Service Account as of the date of termination of
      employment shall be added to the Retirement Account and shall be paid in
      accordance with the provisions of Section 5.1 above.

5.3.  Disability. If a participant becomes Disabled in accordance with Section
      2.11 above, distribution of the Participant's Plan benefits shall be made
      in the same manner as if the Participant were to Retire on the date he or
      she commences long-term disability benefits under the Company's long-term
      disability plan.

5.4.  Death Benefit. Upon the death of a Participant prior to the commencement
      of benefits under this Plan from any Account, the Company shall pay to the
      Participant's beneficiary an amount equal to the balance in that Account
      in a lump sum. In the event of the death of the Participant after the
      commencement of installment payments from any Account, the remaining
      benefits from that Account shall be paid to the Participant's designated
      Beneficiary from that Account either by continuing such installment
      payments or in a lump sum, in accordance with the Participant's existing
      death benefit Distribution Election.

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5.5.  Hardship Distributions. Upon a finding that a Participant has suffered a
      Financial Hardship, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend the
      existing Deferral Commitment or make distributions from any or all of the
      Participant's Accounts. The amount of such distribution shall be limited
      to the amount reasonably necessary to meet the Participant's needs
      resulting from the Financial Hardship. If payment is made due to Financial
      Hardship, the Participant's deferrals under this Plan shall cease for the
      period of the Financial Hardship and for 12 months thereafter. Any
      resumption of the Participant's deferrals under the Plan after such 12-
      month period shall be made only at the election of the Participant in
      accordance with Article III above.

5.6.  Form of Payment. Unless otherwise specified in this Article V, the
      benefits payable from any Account under this Plan shall be paid in one of
      the forms of benefit payment described below, as specified by the
      Participant in his or her Distribution Election. The most recently
      submitted Distribution Election shall be effective for the entire Account
      balance unless amended in writing by the Participant and delivered to the
      Committee. If the Participant's most recent Distribution Election as to
      the form of payment was made within 24 months of the time benefits under
      this Plan become due and payable, then the most recent election made by
      the Participant more than 24 months prior to the time such benefits become
      due and payable shall be used to determine the form of payment. The
      permitted forms of benefit payments are:

     a)  A lump sum amount which is equal to the Account balance; and

     b)  Annual installments for a period of five years (with respect to the In-
         Service Account) or 10 years (with respect to the Retirement Account),
         where the annual payment shall be equal to the balance of the Account
         immediately prior to the payment, multiplied by a fraction, the
         numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is the remaining
         number of annual payments. Interest on the unpaid Account balance shall
         be based on the most recent allocation among the available Valuation
         Funds chosen by the Participant in accordance with Section 4.3 above;
         except that the Interest credited to the Interest Rate Subaccount
         within the Retirement Account during the pay-out period shall continue
         to be the rate declared by the Committee in accordance with Section
         2.18 above.

5.7.  Small Accounts. If the total of a Participant's unpaid Account balances as
      of the Participant's Retirement is less than $5,000, the remaining unpaid
      Account(s) shall be paid in a lump sum, notwithstanding any election by
      the Participant to the contrary.

5.8.  Withholding; Payroll Taxes. The Company shall withhold from any payment
      made pursuant to this Plan any taxes required to be withheld from such
      payments under local, state or federal law. A Beneficiary, however, may
      elect not to have withholding of federal income tax pursuant to Section
      3405(a)(2) of the Code or any successor provision thereto.

5.9.  Payment to Guardian. If a Plan benefit is payable to a minor or a person
      declared incompetent or to a person incapable of handling the disposition
      of the property, the Committee may direct payment to the guardian, legal
      representative or person having the care and custody of such minor,
      incompetent or person. The Committee may require proof of incompetence,
      minority, incapacity or guardianship, as it may deem appropriate prior to
      distribution. Such

                                       11
<PAGE>

       distribution shall completely discharge the Committee and the Company
       from all liability with respect to such benefit.

5.10.  Effect of Payment. The full payment of the applicable benefit under this
       Article V shall completely discharge all obligations on the part of the
       Company to the Participant (and the Participant's Beneficiary) with
       respect to the operation of this Plan, and the Participant's (and
       Participant's Beneficiary's) rights under this Plan shall terminate.

                     ARTICLE VI - BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
                                  -----------------------

6.1.  Beneficiary Designation. Each Participant shall have the right, at any
      time, to designate one or more persons or entity as Beneficiary (both
      primary as well as secondary) to whom benefits under this Plan shall be
      paid in the event of the Participant's death prior to complete
      distribution of the Participant's Account balances. Each Beneficiary
      designation shall be on a written form prescribed by the Committee and
      shall be effective only when filed with the Committee during the
      Participant's lifetime. Designation by a married Participant to the
      Participant's spouse of less than a 50% interest in the Participant's
      benefits shall not be effective unless the spouse executes a written
      consent that acknowledges the effect of the designation, or it is
      established that the consent cannot be obtained because the spouse cannot
      be located.

6.2.  Changing Beneficiary. Any Beneficiary designation may be changed by an
      unmarried Participant without the consent of the previously named
      Beneficiary by the filing of a new Beneficiary designation with the
      Committee. A married Participant's Beneficiary designation may be changed
      by the Participant with the consent of the Participant's spouse as
      provided for in Section 6.1 above by the filing of a new designation,
      which shall cancel all designations previously filed.

6.3.  Change in Marital Status. If the Participant's marital status changes
      after the Participant has designated a Beneficiary, the following shall
      apply:

      a)  If the Participant is married at death but was unmarried when the
          designation was made, the designation shall be void unless the spouse
          has consented to it in the manner prescribed in Section 6.1 above.

      b)  If the Participant is unmarried at death but was married when the
          designation was made:

          i)  The designation shall be void if the spouse was named as
              Beneficiary.
          ii) The designation shall remain valid if a non-spouse Beneficiary was
              named.

       c)  If the Participant was married when the designation was made and is
           married to a different spouse at death, the designation shall be void
           unless the new spouse has consented to it in the manner prescribed in
           Section 6.1 above.

6.4.  No Beneficiary Designation. If any Participant fails to designate a
      Beneficiary in the manner

                                       12
<PAGE>

      provided above, if the designation is void, or if the Beneficiary
      designated by a deceased Participant dies before the Participant or before
      complete distribution of the Participant's benefits, the Participant's
      Beneficiary shall be the person in the first of the following classes in
      which there is a survivor:

      a)  The Participant's surviving spouse;

      b)  The Participant's children in equal shares, except that if any of the
          children predeceases the Participant but leaves surviving issue, then
          such issue shall take by right of representation the share the
          deceased child would have taken if living;

      c)  The Participant's estate.

6.5.  Effect of Payment.  Payment to the Beneficiary shall completely discharge
      the Company's obligations under this Plan.

                          ARTICLE VII - ADMINISTRATION
                                        --------------

7.1.  Committee.  The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.

7.2.  Powers of the Committee. The Committee shall have all powers necessary to
      administer the Plan, including, without limitation, the power to interpret
      the provisions of the Plan, to decide all questions of eligibility, to
      establish rules and forms for the administration of the Plan, and to
      appoint individuals to assist in the administration of the Plan and any
      other agents it deems advisable.

7.3.  Actions of the Committee. All determinations, interpretations, rules, and
      decisions of the Committee with respect to any question arising out of or
      in connection with the administration, interpretation and application of
      the Plan and the rules and regulations promulgated hereunder shall be
      final, conclusive and binding upon all persons having or claiming to have
      any interest or right under the Plan.

7.4.  Delegation. The Committee shall have the power to delegate specific duties
      and responsibilities to officers or other employees of the Company or to
      other individuals or entities. The Committee may rescind any delegation at
      any time. Except as otherwise required by law, each person or entity to
      whom a duty or responsibility has been delegated shall be responsible for
      the exercise of such duty or responsibility and shall not be responsible
      for any act or failure to act of any other person or entity.

7.5.  Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify the members of the Committee,
      the members of the Board and all Company officers and other employees
      responsible for administering the Plan against any and all liabilities
      arising by reason of any act or failure to act made in good faith in
      accordance with the provisions of the Plan. For this purpose, liabilities
      include expenses reasonably incurred in the defense of any claim relating
      to the Plan.

                                       13
<PAGE>

7.6.  Reports and Records. The Committee and those to whom the Committee has
      delegated duties under the Plan shall keep records of all their
      proceedings and actions and shall maintain books of account, records, and
      other data as shall be necessary for the proper administration of the Plan
      and for compliance with applicable law.

                        ARTICLE VIII - CLAIMS PROCEDURE
                                       ----------------

     If a Participant or his or her beneficiary (hereinafter referred to as a
"Claimant") is denied all or a portion of an expected benefit under the Plan for
any reason, he or she may file a claim with the Committee.  Such claim shall be
reviewed by the subcommittee of the Committee that is designated to review such
claims.  This subcommittee shall notify the Claimant within 90 days after
receipt of the claim (or within 180 days if special circumstances apply) of
allowance or denial of the claim.  If the claim for benefits is denied, in whole
or in part, the Claimant will receive a written explanation of:

     a)  The specific reasons for the denial;

     b)  The specific references to provisions of the Plan document that support
         those reasons;

     c)  Any additional information that must be provided to improve the claim
         and the reasons why that information is necessary; and

     d)  The procedures that are available for a further review of the claim.

A Claimant is entitled to request a review of any denial of his or her claim by
the full Committee.  The request for review must be submitted within 60 days of
receipt of the denial.  Absent a request for review within the 60-day period,
the claim shall be deemed to be conclusively denied.  The Claimant or his or her
representatives shall be entitled to review all pertinent documents and to
submit issues and comments in writing as part of any request for review.  The
Committee may, but shall not be required to, grant the Claimant a hearing as
part of this review process.  The Committee will conduct a full and fair review
of the claim and will notify the Claimant of the decision within 60 days (or 120
days if special circumstances apply).  The decision must be in writing and will
include the specific reasons and references to Plan provisions on which the
decision is based.  The Committee has the exclusive right and discretion to
interpret the provisions of the Plan, and the entitlement to benefits, and its
decision is conclusive and final and not subject to further review.

                 ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF PLAN
                              ---------------------------------

9.1.  Amendment. The Board or any duly authorized committee thereof may amend
      the Plan, in full or in part, at any time. However, no amendment shall
      reduce the amount accrued in any Account as of the date such notice of the
      amendment is given.

9.2.  Termination. The Company expects the Plan to be permanent, but necessarily
      must, and

                                       14
<PAGE>

      does, reserve the right to terminate the Plan, by action of the Board, at
      any time.

      a)  Partial Termination. The Board may partially terminate the Plan by
          instructing the Committee not to accept any additional Deferral
          Commitments. If such a partial termination occurs, the Plan shall
          continue to operate and be effective with regard to Deferral
          Commitments entered into prior to the effective date of such partial
          termination.

      b)  Complete Termination. The Board may completely terminate the Plan by
          instructing the Committee not to accept any additional Deferral
          Commitments, and by terminating all ongoing Deferral Commitments. In
          the event of complete termination, the Plan shall cease to operate and
          the Company shall distribute each Account to the appropriate
          Participant.

                           ARTICLE X - MISCELLANEOUS
                                       -------------

10.1.  Unfunded Plan. This plan is an unfunded plan maintained primarily to
       provide deferred compensation benefits for a select group of "management
       or highly-compensated employees" within the meaning of Sections 201, 301,
       and 401 of ERISA, and therefore is exempt from the provisions of Parts 2,
       3 and 4 of Title I of ERISA. Accordingly, the Board may terminate the
       Plan and make no further benefit payments or remove certain employees as
       Participants if it is determined by the United States Department of
       Labor, a court of competent jurisdiction, or an opinion of counsel that
       the Plan constitutes an employee pension benefit plan within the meaning
       of Section 3 (2) of ERISA (as currently in effect or hereafter amended)
       which is not so exempt.

10.2.  Company Obligation.  The obligation to make benefit payments to any
       Participant under the Plan shall be an obligation solely of the Company.

10.3.  Unsecured General Creditor. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
       Plan, Participants and Participants' Beneficiaries shall be unsecured
       general creditors, with no secured or preferential rights to any assets
       of the Company or any other party for payment of benefits under this
       Plan. Any property held by the Company for the purpose of generating the
       cash flow for benefit payments shall remain its general, unpledged and
       unrestricted assets. The Company's obligation under the Plan shall be an
       unfunded and unsecured promise to pay money in the future.

10.4.  Trust Fund. The Company shall be responsible for the payment of all
       benefits provided under the Plan. At its discretion, the Company may
       establish one or more trusts, with such trustees as the Committee may
       approve, for the purpose of assisting in the payment of such benefits.
       Although such a trust shall be irrevocable, its assets shall be held for
       payment of all of the Company's general creditors in the event of
       insolvency. To the extent any benefits provided under the Plan are paid
       from any such trust, the Company shall have no further obligation to pay
       them. If not paid from the trust, such benefits shall remain the
       obligation of the Company.

                                       15
<PAGE>

10.5.  Nonassignability. Neither a Participant nor any other person shall have
       any right to commute, sell, assign, transfer, pledge, anticipate,
       mortgage or otherwise encumber, transfer, hypothecate or convey in
       advance of actual receipt the amounts, if any, payable hereunder, or any
       part thereof, which are, and all rights to which are, expressly declared
       to be unassignable and non-transferable. No part of the amounts payable
       shall, prior to actual payment, be subject to seizure or sequestration
       for the payment of any debts, judgments, alimony or separate maintenance
       owed by a Participant or any other person, nor be transferable by
       operation of law in the event of a Participant's or any other person's
       bankruptcy or insolvency.

10.6.  Not a Contract of Employment. This Plan shall not constitute a contract
       of employment between the Company and any Participant. Nothing in this
       Plan shall give a Participant the right to be retained in the service of
       the Company or to interfere with the right of the Company to discipline
       or discharge a Participant at any time.

10.7.  Protective Provisions. A Participant will cooperate with the Company by
       furnishing any and all information requested by the Company in order to
       facilitate the payment of benefits hereunder, and by taking such physical
       examinations as the Company may deem necessary and taking such other
       action as may be requested by the Company.

10.8.  Governing Law. The provisions of this Plan shall be construed and
       interpreted according to the laws of the State of Illinois, except as
       preempted by federal law.

10.9.  Validity. If any provision of this Plan shall be held illegal or invalid
       for any reason, said illegality or invalidity shall not affect the
       remaining parts hereof, but this Plan shall be construed and enforced as
       if such illegal and invalid provision had never been inserted herein.

10.10.  Successors. The provisions of this Plan shall bind and inure to the
        benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns. The term
        successors as used herein shall include any corporate or other business
        entity which shall, whether by merger, consolidation, purchase or
        otherwise, acquire all or substantially all of the business and assets
        of the Company, and successors of any such corporation or other business
        entity.

10.11.  Severability. If any provision of the Plan shall be found to be invalid
        or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the validity or
        enforceability of the remaining provisions of the Plan shall remain in
        full force and effect.

                                       16
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Plan to be executed on this
26th day of May, 1999.

                              TRUE NORTH COMMUNICATIONS INC.

                              By:   /s/ Paul Sollitto
                                   -------------------------

                                Its:  VP - Human Resources
                                      --------------------

                                       17<PAGE>

                                                                  Exhibit 10. 12

                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

    EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated and effective as of December
1, 1997 between True North Communications Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and Bruce Mason (the "Executive").

    WHEREAS, the Company is a global communications holding company which owns
companies engaged in the advertising agency business, the multimedia production
business, the business of planning and buying of media time and space and
related businesses.

    WHEREAS, the Executive currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company pursuant to an Employment Agreement dated as of July 30,
1997 (the "Existing Employment Agreement").

    WHEREAS, pursuant to the Existing Employment Agreement, such service is
scheduled to end on February 28, 1999.

    WHEREAS, the Company desires that the Executive continue to serve as the
Chief Executive Officer of the Company for an additional month.

    WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to replace the Existing
Employment Agreement (insofar as it relates to periods from and after the date
hereof) with this Agreement.

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements
contained herein, the parties hereby agree as follows:

    1.    Employment.  The Company hereby employs the Executive and the
Executive hereby agrees to be employed by the Company upon the terms and subject
to the conditions contained in this Agreement. The term of full-time employment
of the Executive by the Company pursuant to this Agreement (the "Full-Time
Employment Period") shall commence on the date hereof and, unless extended by
mutual agreement of the Company and the Executive or earlier terminated pursuant
to Section 4, shall end sixteen months thereafter.

    2.    Position and Duties; Responsibilities.

    (a)   Position and Duties.  The Company shall employ the Executive during
the Full-Time Employment Period as its principal executive officer, with the
title of Chief Executive Officer. During the Full-Time Employment Period, the
Executive shall perform faithfully and loyally and to the best of his abilities
the duties assigned to him hereunder, shall devote his full business time,
attention and effort to the affairs of the Company and shall use his reasonable
best efforts to promote the interests of the

<PAGE>

Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Executive may engage in charitable,
civic or community activities and, with the prior approval of the Board of
Directors of the Company (the "Board"), may serve as a director of any business
corporation, provided that such activities or service do not violate the terms
of any of the covenants contained in Section 10 or Section 11.

    (b)   Responsibilities.  The Executive shall report directly to the Board.
Subject to the powers, authority and responsibilities vested in the Board and in
duly constituted committees of the Board, the Executive shall have all the
authority and responsibility of the principal executive officer of a
corporation, including without limitation authority and responsibility for the
formulation and execution of the corporate policy of the Company. Accordingly,
the chief executive of each company owned by the Company that is engaged in the
global advertising agency business shall report directly to the Executive. The
Executive shall also perform such other duties (not inconsistent with the
position of principal executive officer) on behalf of the Company and its
subsidiaries as may from time to time be authorized or directed by the Board and
as are customarily exercisable by a chief executive officer. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Agreement, the Executive shall be permitted to express
to the Board and to the stockholders of the Company his views on any matter
presented to, considered by or raised by the Board or such stockholders.

    3.    Compensation.

    (a)   Salary, VIC and DVIC.  With respect to the Full-Time Employment
Period, the Company shall pay to the Executive a salary at the annual rate of
$600,000 and variable incentive compensation ("VIC") and deferred variable
incentive compensation ("DVIC") in accordance with the Company's Performance
Program, provided that the aggregate amount of such salary, VIC and DVIC for the
remainder of calendar year 1997 and for each subsequent calendar year or portion
thereof during the Full-Time Employment Period shall be not less than the
greater of (i) the amount for such period based on an annual rate of not less
than $1,350,000 and (ii) the aggregate amount of salary and bonus for such
period paid to the President of the Company (such greater amount, annualized if
for a period of less than a full calendar year, being referred to as the
"Calendar Year Minimum Compensation") and that any payment required to be made
by this proviso shall be deemed to be VIC.

    (b)   Stock Options.  During the Full-Time Employment Period, the Executive
shall be entitled to receive variable incentive stock options in accordance with
the Company's variable incentive stock option program, and in any event shall be
entitled to receive variable incentive stock options at least equivalent to
options received by the Company's President. In addition, the Company covenants
that the Compensation Committee shall take such actions as may be necessary,
including approval of stock option agreements with respect to the future grant
of stock options to the Executive, so that upon the termination of the Full-Time
Employment Period all of the stock options theretofore granted to the Executive
by the Company then held by the Executive shall be fully exercisable until the
end of the term thereof. The Company assumes no responsibility for any liability
of the Executive under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
relating in any manner, directly or indirectly, to the amendment of such stock
options.

<PAGE>

    (c)   Other Benefits.  During the Full-Time Employment Period, the Executive
shall be entitled to participate in the Company's employee benefit plans
generally available to senior executives of the Company, including group health,
life, short-term disability, long-term disability, pension, profit sharing,
profit-sharing integration, stock purchase, stock purchase integration and
nonqualified deferred compensation and retirement plans and the plans or
programs for the allowance for or the reimbursement of automobile expenses,
financial planning expenses and club dues and any other plans of general
application to employees on the date hereof and such plans and programs adopted
hereafter for the benefit of senior executives of the Company (all such benefits
being hereinafter referred to as the "Employee Benefits"), in the case of plans
or programs in effect on the date hereof on terms no less favorable than their
terms on the date hereof; provided that all retirement benefits shall be based
upon plans in effect on the date hereof, subject to modifications of general
application to all employees. The Executive shall be entitled to take time off
for vacation or illness in accordance with the Company's policy for senior
executives and to receive all other fringe benefits as are from time to time
made generally available to senior executives of the Company.

    (d)   Expense Reimbursement.  During the Full-Time Employment Period, the
Company shall reimburse the Executive for all proper expenses incurred by him in
the performance of his duties hereunder in accordance with the Company's
policies and procedures.

    4.    Termination of Full-Time Employment Period; Suspension.

    (a)   Termination.  The Full-Time Employment Period shall be terminated upon
the first to occur of (i) the expiration thereof pursuant to Section 1, (ii)
termination by the Company at any time without Cause (as such term is defined in
Section 4(b)) upon written notice given to the Executive at least 30 days prior
to such termination, (iii) termination by the Company at any time for Cause upon
written notice given to the Executive at least 10 days prior to such
termination, (iv) termination by the Company on account of the Executive's
having become unable (as determined by the Board in good faith and certified by
a physician chosen by the Company and acceptable to the Executive) to regularly
perform his duties hereunder by reason of illness or incapacity for a period of
more than six consecutive months ("Termination for Disability"), or (v) the
Executive's death. Upon termination of the Full-Time Employment Period, the
Executive shall automatically and without further action on his part be deemed
to have resigned from all offices and directorships with the Company and its
subsidiaries and affiliates.

    (b)   Definition of Cause.  For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall
mean (i) the commission of a felony, (ii) the commission of any act which
involves both dishonesty with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries
and moral turpitude and causes the Company to be viewed in a materially
unfavorable light by its customers, employees or investors, (iii) material
willful misconduct with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
provided that if it reasonably could be concluded that such alleged material
willful misconduct did not occur or was not material or willful or misconduct
and if such alleged material willful misconduct is curable, the Executive shall
have 30 days following written notice thereof to the Executive to cure such
alleged material

<PAGE>

willful misconduct unless the Company, in its good faith judgment, determines
that such cure period must be shorter to avoid harm to the Company, in which
case such cure period shall be such lesser number of days as shall be determined
in good faith by the Company and set forth in such written notice to the
Executive, commencing upon such written notice to the Executive, or (iv) breach
of any provision of Section 10, 11 or 12.

    (c)   Suspension.  If the Company shall determine that the Executive has
committed any act or acts which constitute Cause and shall notify the Executive
thereof in writing and if the Executive shall deny that he committed such act or
acts or that such act or acts constitute Cause and shall notify the Company of
such denial in writing within seven days following the Company's written notice
to the Executive, the Board may, in its sole and absolute discretion, suspend
the Executive with full compensation and benefits during the pendency of any
investigation or arbitration with respect thereto.

    5.    Consequences of Termination of Full-Time Employment Period.

    (a)   Expiration or Termination Without Cause.  If the Full-Time Employment
Period terminates for a reason set forth in clause (i) or (ii) of Section 4(a),
the commencement of the Company's Directors Part-Time Employment Agreement shall
be deferred until the end of the Initial Part-Time Employment Period (as such
term is defined in Section 6(a)) or until the end of the Vested Period (as such
term is defined in Section 5(a)(iv)), respectively, and in lieu of any severance
amounts which otherwise would be payable to the Executive:

       (i)    the Executive shall be entitled to receive (A) all salary payable
       with respect to the period through the date of such termination, (B)
       unpaid VIC and DVIC for the prior calendar year, (C) VIC and DVIC for the
       then current calendar year, prorated through the date of such termination
       based on actual results of operations for full calendar year and (D)
       reimbursement of expenses incurred through the date of such termination;
       provided, that in determining the aggregate amount of the salary payable
       pursuant to clause (A) of this Section 5(a)(i) and the VIC and DVIC
       payable pursuant to clause (C) of this Section 5(a)(i), the Calendar Year
       Minimum Compensation shall be prorated through the date of such
       termination;

       (ii)   each stock option theretofore granted to the Executive by the
       Company then held by the Executive shall, on the date of such
       termination, be exercisable for the full term of such option in
       accordance with the applicable stock option agreement in effect at the
       time of such termination (giving effect to this provision);

       (iii)  if the Full-Time Employment Period terminates for reason set forth
       in clause (i) of Section 4(a), the Executive shall become a part-time
       employee of the Company entitled to the compensation and benefits payable
       during the Initial Part-Time Employment Period in accordance with Section
       6(c); and

<PAGE>

       (iv) if the Full-Time Employment Period terminates for reason set forth
       in clause (ii) of Section 4(a), (A) during the period of two and one-half
       years following the termination of the Full-Time Employment Period (the
       "Vested Period"), the Executive (or, in the event of his disability, his
       legal representative, as applicable) shall receive the compensation and
       benefits described in Section 6(c)(i) and Section 6(c)(ii) as if the
       Vested Period were the Initial Part-Time Employment Period and such
       Initial Part-Time Employment Period could neither be terminated early nor
       suspended and (B) following the Vested Period, the Executive shall be
       entitled to the compensation and benefits set forth in the Company's
       Directors Part-Time Employment Agreement upon the terms set forth therein
       on the date hereof, but with all age and service requirements deemed to
       have been satisfied and with the benefit calculated at 45% of final
       average annual compensation (as defined in such Agreement) regardless of
       actual service, and payments thereunder shall be made for the period
       commencing on the day following the expiration of the Vested Period and
       continuing for five years thereafter. In the event of the Executive's
       death during the Vested Period, his executor shall be entitled to the
       compensation set forth in clause (A) of the previous sentence until the
       expiration of the Vested Period and the Executive's spouse shall be
       entitled to the continuation of medical insurance coverage on the same
       basis as theretofore provided to the Executive until the expiration of
       the Vested Period and following the Vested Period the compensation and
       benefits set forth in the Company's Directors Part-Time Employment
       Agreement shall become payable upon the terms set forth therein on the
       date hereof, but with all age and service requirements deemed to have
       been satisfied and with the benefit calculated at 45% of final average
       annual compensation (as defined in such Agreement) regardless of actual
       service, and payments thereunder shall be made for the period commencing
       on the day following the expiration of the Vested Period and continuing
       for five years thereafter.

    (b)   Termination for Cause.  If the Full-Time Employment Period terminates
for any reason set forth in clause (iii) of Section 4(a), the Executive shall be
entitled to receive (i) all salary payable with respect to the period through
the date of such termination, (ii) unpaid VIC and DVIC for the prior calendar
year, (iii) VIC and DVIC for the then current calendar year, prorated through
the date of such termination based on actual results of operations for such full
calendar year, (iv) reimbursement of expenses incurred through the date of such
termination and (v) any other benefits accrued through the date of such
termination; provided that in determining the aggregate amount of the salary
payable pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 5(b) and the VIC and DVIC payable
pursuant to clause (iii) of this Section 5(b), the Calendar Year Minimum
Compensation shall be prorated through the date of such termination. In
addition, (A) during the Vested Period, the Executive (or, in the event of his
disability, his legal representative, as applicable) shall receive the
compensation and benefits described in Section 6(c)(i) and Section 6(c)(ii) as
if the Vested Period were the Initial Part-Time Employment Period and such
Initial Part-Time Employment Period could neither be terminated early nor
suspended and (B) following the Vested Period, unless the Cause that gave rise
to such termination would have permitted the Company to terminate the Initial
Part-Time

<PAGE>

Employment Period had it occurred during the Initial Part-Time Employment
Period, the Executive shall be entitled to the compensation and benefits set
forth in the Company's Directors Part-Time Employment Agreement upon the terms
set forth therein on the date hereof, but as if such termination had been
without cause and with all age and service requirements deemed to have been
satisfied and with the benefit calculated at 45% of final average annual
compensation (as defined in such Agreement) regardless of actual service, and
payments thereunder shall be made for the period commencing on the day following
the expiration of the Vested Period and continuing for five years thereafter. In
the event of the Executive's death during the Vested Period, his executor shall
be entitled to the compensation set forth in clause (A) of the previous sentence
until the expiration of the Vested Period and the Executive's spouse shall be
entitled to the continuation of medical insurance coverage on the same basis as
theretofore provided to the Executive until the expiration of the Vested Period
and following the Vested Period, unless the Cause that gave rise to the
termination of the Full-Time Employment Period would have permitted the Company
to terminate the Initial Part-Time Employment Period had it occurred during the
Initial Part-Time Employment Period, the compensation and benefits set forth in
the Company's Directors Part-Time Employment Agreement shall become payable upon
the terms set forth therein on the date hereof, but as if the termination of the
Full-Time Employment Period had been without cause and with all age and service
requirements deemed to have been satisfied and with the benefit calculated at
45% of final average annual compensation (as defined in such Agreement)
regardless of actual service, and payments thereunder shall be made for the
period commencing on the day following the expiration of the Vested Period and
continuing for five years thereafter. Except as provided above in this Section
6(b), the Executive shall not be entitled to any compensation or benefits under
the Company's Directors Part-Time Employment Agreement or any other severance
payments.

    (c)   Disability or Death.  If the Full-Time Employment Period terminates
for a reason set forth in clause (iv) or (v) of Section 4(a), commencement of
the Company's Directors Part-Time Employment Agreement shall be deferred until
the end of the Vested Period and in lieu of any severance amounts which
otherwise would be payable to the Executive the Executive or his executor,
administrator or other legal representative, as the case may be, shall be
entitled to the payments and benefits set forth in Section 5(a)(i) and Section
5(a)(ii) and during the Vested Period the Executive or his executor,
administrator or other legal representative, as the case may be, shall be
entitled to the compensation set forth in Section 6(c)(i), and (A) in the case
of Termination for Disability, the Executive shall be entitled to the benefits
set forth in Section 6(c)(ii) (and in the event the Executive dies prior to the
end of the Vested Period, the Executive's spouse shall be entitled to the of
medical insurance coverage on the same basis as theretofore provided to the
Executive until the end of the Vested Period) or (B) in the case of termination
on account of the Executive's death, the Executive's spouse shall be entitled to
the continuation of medical insurance coverage on the same basis as theretofore
provided to the Executive until the end of the Vested Period and, in either
case, the compensation and benefits set forth in the Company's Directors Part-
Time Employment Agreement shall become payable upon the terms set forth therein
on the date hereof, but with all age and service requirements deemed to have
been satisfied and with the benefit calculated at 45% of final average annual
compensation (as defined in such Agreement) regardless of actual service, for
the

<PAGE>

period commencing on the day following the expiration of the Vested Period and
continuing for five years thereafter.

    6.    Initial Part-Time Employment Period.

    (a)   Commencement.  If the Full-Time Employment Period terminates for a
reason set forth in clause (i) of Section 4(a), the Executive shall become a
part-time employee of the Company for the period commencing upon termination of
the Full-Time Employment Period and ending on September 30, 2001 (the "Initial
Part-Time Employment Period").

    (b)   Position and Duties.  During the Initial Part-Time Employment Period
the Executive shall be a part-time employee of the Company and shall make
himself available, upon reasonable notice (reasonableness to include, but not be
limited to, a good faith effort to accommodate the schedules and time needs of
the parties), to perform services for the Company which (i) shall be related to
such projects and matters as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company may designate from time to time, (ii) are commensurate with the
Executive's years of experience and level of skill and (iii) are similar to the
services rendered by the Executive prior to the termination of the Full-Time
Employment Period, including, but not limited to, the duties set forth in
Section 12. The Executive shall not be required to devote more than 10 days
during any calendar quarter to the performance of such services.

    (c)   Compensation.  As compensation for the services to be performed by the
Executive during the Initial Part-Time Employment Period, the Executive shall
receive the following compensation and benefits in accordance with the Company's
normal payroll policies:

       (i)   cash compensation shall be paid to the Executive during the Initial
       Part-Time Employment Period at the rate of $1,350,000 per year;

       (ii)  the Employee Benefits shall continue to be paid to the Executive
       during the Initial Part-Time Employment Period, in the case of Employee
       Benefits in effect on the date hereof on terms no less favorable than
       their terms on the date hereof; provided that coverage for the Executive
       under the Company's long-term disability insurance plan shall cease upon
       termination of the Full-Time Employment Period; provided further that all
       retirement benefits shall be based upon plans in effect on the date
       hereof, subject to modifications of general application to all employees;
       and provided further that for the year in which the Full-Time Employment
       Period terminates contributions shall be made to a supplemental
       retirement plan for the benefit of the Executive in an amount which,
       together with any contributions made for such year for the benefit of the
       Executive under the Company's Profit Sharing Retirement Plan, Profit
       Sharing Integration Plan, Stock Purchase Plan and Stock Purchase
       Integration Plan, is equal to the contributions which would have been
       made for such year for the benefit of the Executive under such plans
       based upon compensation received by the Executive during such year
       notwithstanding the hours of service conditions of such plans; and

<PAGE>

       (iii)  the Company shall reimburse the Executive in accordance with the
       Company's policies and procedures for all proper expenses incurred by him
       in the performance of his duties during the Initial Part-Time Employment
       Period.

    7.    Termination of Initial Part-Time Employment Period; Suspension.

    (a)   Termination.  The Initial Part-Time Employment Period shall be
terminated on the first to occur, after the termination of the Full-Time
Employment Period, of (i) September 30, 2001, (ii) termination thereof by the
Company at any time for Cause upon written notice given to the Executive at
least 10 days prior to such termination, (iii) Termination for Disability or
(iv) the Executive's death.

    (b)   Suspension.  If the Company shall determine that the Executive has
committed any act or acts which constitute Cause and shall notify the Executive
thereof in writing and if the Executive shall deny that he committed such act or
acts or that such act or acts constitute Cause and shall notify the Company of
such denial in writing within seven days following the Company's written notice
to the Executive, the Board may, in its sole and absolute discretion, suspend
the Executive with full compensation and benefits during the pendency of any
investigation or arbitration with respect thereto.

    8.    Consequences of Termination of Initial Part-Time Employment Period.

    (a)   Expiration.  If the Initial Part-Time Employment Period terminates on
September 30, 2001, in lieu of any severance amounts which otherwise would be
payable to the Executive, the Executive shall thereafter be entitled to the
compensation and benefits set forth in the Company's Directors Part-Time
Employment Agreement upon the terms set forth therein on the date hereof, but
with all age and service requirements deemed to have been satisfied and with the
benefit calculated at 45% of final average annual compensation (as defined in
such Agreement) regardless of actual service, and payments thereunder shall be
made for the period commencing on October 1, 2001 and continuing for five years
thereafter.

    (b)   Termination for Cause.  If the Initial Part-Time Employment Period is
terminated by the Company for Cause, during the remainder of the Vested Period
the Executive (or, in the event of his disability, his legal representative, as
applicable) shall receive the compensation and benefits described in Section
6(c)(i) and Section 6(c)(ii) as if the Initial Part-Time Employment Period had
not been terminated, but the Executive shall not be entitled to any compensation
or benefits under the Company's Directors Part-Time Employment Agreement or any
other severance payments. In the event of the Executive's death during the
Vested Period, his executor shall be entitled to such compensation until the
expiration of the Vested Period and the Executive's spouse shall be entitled to
the continuation of medical insurance coverage on the same basis as theretofore
provided to the Executive until the end of the Vested Period.

    (c)  Disability or Death.  If the Initial Part-Time Employment Period
terminates as a result of a Termination for Disability or the Executive's death,
in lieu of any severance

<PAGE>

amounts which otherwise would be payable to the Executive, the Executive or his
executor, administrator or other legal representative, as the case may be, shall
be entitled to the compensation set forth in Section 6(c)(i) until September 30,
2001 and (i) in the case of Termination for Disability, the Executive shall be
entitled to the benefits set forth in Section 6(c)(ii) until September 30, 2001
(and, in the event the Executive dies prior to September 30, 2001, the
Executive's spouse shall be entitled to the continuation of medical insurance
coverage on the same basis as theretofore provided to the Executive until
September 30, 2001) or (ii) in the case of termination on account of the
Executive's death, the Executive's spouse shall be entitled to the continuation
of medical insurance coverage on the same basis as theretofore provided to the
Executive until September 30, 2001 and, in either case, the compensation and
benefits set forth in the Company's Directors Part-Time Employment Agreement
shall become payable upon the terms set forth therein on the date hereof, but
with all age and service requirements deemed to have been satisfied and with the
benefit calculated at 45% of final average annual compensation (as defined in
such Agreement) regardless of actual service, for the period commencing on
October 1, 2001 and continuing for five years thereafter.

    9.    Federal and State Withholding.  The Company shall deduct from the
amounts payable to the Executive pursuant to this Agreement the amount of all
required federal and state withholding taxes in accordance with the Executive's
Form W-4 on file with the Company and all applicable social security taxes.

    10.   Noncompetition; Nonsolicitation.

    (a)   The Executive acknowledges that in the course of his employment with
the Company pursuant to his Agreement he will become familiar, and during the
course of his employment with the Company or any of its subsidiaries prior to
the date of this Agreement he has become familiar, with trade secrets and
customer lists of, and other confidential information concerning, the Company
and its subsidiaries, affiliates and clients and that his services have been and
will be of special, unique and extraordinary value to the Company.

    (b)   The Executive agrees that during the Full-Time Employment Period and
for a period of five years thereafter (the "Noncompetition Period") he shall not
in any manner, directly or indirectly, through any person, firm or corporation,
alone or as a member of a partnership or as an officer, director, stockholder,
investor or employee of or consultant to any other corporation or enterprise or
otherwise, engage or be engaged, or assist any other person, firm, corporation
or enterprise in engaging or being engaged, in any business being conducted by
the Company or any of its subsidiaries as of the termination of the Full-Time
Employment Period in any geographic area in which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is then conducting such business. Within seven days following the
termination of the Full-Time Employment Period, the Company shall deliver to the
Executive a written description of the businesses being conducted by the Company
and its subsidiaries as of the date of such termination and the respective
geographic areas in which such businesses are then being conducted; provided,
however, that if the Company shall fail to deliver such written description
within such seven-day period, the Executive may deliver to the Company a written
demand therefor and the Company shall have seven days following the delivery of
such written demand to deliver such written

<PAGE>

description to the Executive. The Executive shall have no liability for any
breach of the covenant contained in this Section 10(b) which may occur during
the period commencing on the termination of the Full-Time Employment Period and
ending on the date of the delivery of such written description to the Executive,
provided that the Executive shall have attempted in good faith to comply with
such covenant during such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, subsequent to
the termination of the Full-Time Employment Period the Executive may engage or
be engaged, or assist any other person, firm, corporation or enterprise in
engaging or being engaged, in any business activity which is competitive with a
business activity being conducted by the Company or any of its subsidiaries at
the time of termination of the Full-Time Employment Period only if, at least 60
days prior to the commencement of such competitive activity, the Executive
delivers to the Company a written release, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Company, releasing the Company from all further obligations to the Executive
pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to the Company's Directors Part-Time
Employment Agreement, pursuant to any other agreement or arrangement with the
Company or any subsidiary of the Company or otherwise, other than the right of
the Executive to receive benefits under any retirement plan of the Company; and
provided further, that nothing contained in this Section 10(b) shall release or
otherwise affect the obligations of the Executive contained in Section 11 of
this Agreement.

    (c)   The Executive further agrees that during the Non-competition Period he
shall not (i) in any manner, directly or indirectly, induce or attempt to induce
any employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates to
terminate or abandon his or her employment for any purpose whatsoever, or (ii)
in connection with any business to which Section 10(b) applies, call on,
service, solicit or otherwise do business with any client of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries; provided, however, that the restriction contained in clause
(i) of this Section 10(c) shall not apply to, or interfere with, the proper
performance by the Executive of his duties pursuant to Section 2 of this
Agreement.

    (d)   Nothing in this Section 10 shall prohibit the Executive from being (i)
a stockholder in a mutual fund or a diversified investment company or (ii) a
passive owner of not more than two percent of the outstanding stock of any class
of a corporation so long as the Executive has no active participation in the
business of such corporation.

    (e)   If, at any time of enforcement of this Section 10, a court or an
arbitrator holds that the restrictions stated herein are unreasonable under
circumstances then existing, the parties hereto agree that the maximum period,
scope or geographical area reasonable under such circumstances shall be
substituted for the stated period, scope or area and that the court shall be
allowed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum period,
scope and area permitted by law.

    11.   Confidentiality.  The Executive shall not, at any time during the
Full-Time Employment Period, the Initial Part-Time Employment Period, the
duration of the Company's Directors Part-Time Employment Agreement or
thereafter, make use of or disclose, directly or indirectly, any (i) trade
secret or other confidential or secret information of the Company or of any of
its subsidiaries, affiliates or clients or (ii) other technical, business,
proprietary or financial information of the Company or of any of its

<PAGE>

subsidiaries, affiliates or clients not available to the public generally or to
the competitors of the Company or to the competitors of any of its subsidiaries
or affiliates, in each case that the Executive obtained as a result of his
employment by the Company or any of its subsidiaries ("Confidential
Information"), except to the extent that such Confidential Information (a) is
used by the Executive during the Full-Time Employment Period in the proper
performance of his duties pursuant to this Agreement, (b) is disclosed by the
Executive to his legal counsel in connection with legal services performed by
such counsel for the Executive, provided that such disclosure is made on a
confidential basis, (c) becomes a matter of public record or is published in a
newspaper, magazine or other periodical available to the general public, other
than as a result of any act or omission of the Executive outside the proper
performance of his duties pursuant to this Agreement, or (d) is required to be
disclosed by any law, regulation or order of any court or regulatory commission,
department or agency. Promptly following the termination of the Full-Time
Employment Period, the Executive shall surrender to the Company all records,
memoranda, notes, plans, reports, computer tapes and software and other
documents and data which constitute Confidential Information which he may then
possess or have under his control (together with all copies thereof); provided,
however, that the Executive may retain copies of such documents as are necessary
for the preparation of his federal or state income tax returns; and provided
further that if the Company believes that not all Confidential Information which
the Executive may then possess or have under his control has been surrendered to
the Company, the Company shall request with specificity the Confidential
Information to be surrendered by the Executive. The Executive shall have a
reasonable period of time following such request to surrender such Confidential
Information which in no event shall be less than 15 or more than 30 days
following such request and, if the Executive makes a good faith effort to comply
with such request, his failure to surrender any Confidential Information shall
not constitute Cause for purposes of Section 4(b)(iv) hereof.

    12. Nondisparagement; Cooperation.

    (a) The Executive shall not, at any time during the Full-Time Employment
Period, the Initial Part-Time Employment Period or the duration of the Company's
Directors Part-Time Employment Agreement or thereafter, make any statement,
publicly or privately, which would disparage the Company, its business or any
director or officer of the Company or would have a deleterious effect upon the
interests of the Company's business or its stockholders; provided, however, that
the Executive shall not be in breach of this restriction if such statements
consist solely of (i) private statements made to any officers, directors or
employees of the Company by the Executive in the course of carrying out his
duties pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) private statements made to persons
other than clients or competitors of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
its affiliates (or their representatives) or members of the press or the
financial community that do not have a material adverse effect upon the Company;
and provided further that nothing contained in this Section 12(a) or in any
other provision of this Agreement shall preclude the Executive from making any
statement in good faith which is required by law, regulation or order of any
court or regulatory commission, department or agency. During the Full-Time
Employment Period, the Initial Part-Time Employment Period and the duration of
the Company's Directors Part-Time Employment Agreement and upon
<PAGE>

reasonable notice and at the expense of the Company, the Executive shall take
such actions as the Company shall reasonably request (reasonableness to include,
but not be limited to, a good faith effort to accommodate the schedules and time
needs of the parties) in furtherance of the client relationships of the Company
and its subsidiaries. Upon the termination of the Full-Time Employment Period,
the Executive shall urge the clients of the Company and its subsidiaries to
maintain their relationships with the Company and its subsidiaries, which
action, together with any other actions required under this Agreement, shall not
require the Executive to perform services (i) during the Initial Part-Time
Employment Period in excess of the limit of 10 days of service during any
calendar quarter set forth in Section 6(b) or (ii) during the duration of the
Company's Directors Part-Time Employment Agreement in excess of 10 days during
any calendar quarter.

    (b) The Company shall not, at any time during the Full-Time Employment
Period, the Initial Part-Time Employment Period or the duration of the Company's
Directors Part-Time Employment Agreement or thereafter, authorize any person to
make or allow, nor shall the Company condone the making of, any statement,
publicly or privately, which would disparage the Executive; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be in breach of this restriction if such statements
consist solely of (i) private statements made to any officers, directors or
employees of the Company or (ii) private statements made to persons other than
clients or competitors of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates
(or their representatives) or members of the press or the financial community
that do not have a materially adverse effect upon the Executive; and provided
further that nothing contained in this Section 12(b) shall preclude any officer,
director, employee, agent or other representative of the Company from making any
statement in good faith which is required by any law, regulation or order of any
court or regulatory commission, department or agency.

    13. Enforcement. The parties hereto agree that the Company would be damaged
irreparably in the event that any provision of section 10, 11, or 12 of this
Agreement were not performed in accordance with its terms or were otherwise
breached and that money damages would be an inadequate remedy for any such
nonperformance or breach. Accordingly, the Company and its successors or
permitted assigns shall be entitled, in addition to other rights and remedies
existing in their favor, to an injunction or injunctions to prevent any breach
or threatened breach of any of such provisions and to enforce such provisions
specifically (without posting a bond or other security). Each of the parties
agrees that he or it will submit himself or itself to the personal jurisdiction
of the courts of the State of Illinois in any action by the other party to
enforce an arbitration award against him or it or to obtain interim injunctive
or other relief pending an arbitration decision.

    14. Survival. Sections 10, 11, 12 and 13 of this Agreement shall survive and
continue in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms,
notwithstanding any termination of the Full-Time Employment Period, the Initial
Part-Time Employment Period or the duration of the Company's Directors Part-Time
Employment Agreement.
<PAGE>

    15. Arbitration; Certain Costs. Any dispute or controversy between the
Company and the Executive, whether arising out of or relating to this Agreement,
the breach of this Agreement, or otherwise, shall be settled by arbitration
administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its
Commercial Rules then in effect and judgment on the award rendered by the
arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The
arbitrator shall have the authority to award any remedy or relief that a court
of competent jurisdiction could order or grant, including, without limitation,
the issuance of an injunction. However, either party may, without inconsistency
with this arbitration provision, apply to any court having jurisdiction over
such dispute or controversy and seek interim provisional, injunctive or other
equitable relief until the arbitration award is rendered or the controversy is
otherwise resolved. The Company shall reimburse the Executive, upon demand, for
all costs and expenses (including without limitation attorneys' fees) reasonably
incurred by the Executive in good faith in connection with this arbitration
provision, including without limitation in connection with any such application
undertaken by the Executive in good faith, as well as for all such by the
Executive in connection with entering and/or enforcing the award rendered by the
arbitrator. Except as necessary in court proceedings to enforce this arbitration
provision or an award rendered hereunder, or to obtain interim relief, neither a
party nor an arbitrator may disclose the existence, content or results of any
arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of the Company and the
Executive. The Company and the Executive acknowledge that this Agreement
evidences a transaction involving interstate commerce. Notwithstanding any
choice of law provision included in this Agreement, the United States Federal
Arbitration Act shall govern the interpretation and enforcement of this
arbitration provision.

    16. Expenses of this Agreement. The Company shall pay the Executive's legal
fees and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement, in an amount not
to exceed $30,000, promptly upon submission to the Company of a detailed
statement therefor, subject to approval of the Company's General Counsel.

    17. Notices. All notices and other communications required or permitted
hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when (a) delivered
personally or by overnight courier to the following addresses of the other party
hereto and his or its counsel (or such other address for such party or his or
its counsel as shall be specified by notice given pursuant to this Section 17)
or (b) sent by facsimile to the following facsimile numbers of the other party
hereto and his or its counsel (or such other facsimile number for such party or
his or its counsel as shall be specified by notice given pursuant to this
Section 17), with the confirmatory copy delivered by overnight courier to the
addresses of such party and his or its counsel pursuant to this Section 17:

    (a) if to the Company, to:

          Chief Human Resources Officer
          True North Communications Inc.
          101 East Erie Street
          Chicago, Illinois 60611-2897
          Facsimile No.: 312-425-6350
<PAGE>

          with a copy to:

          Thomas A. Cole
          Sidley & Austin
          One First National Plaza
          Chicago, Illinois 60603
          Facsimile No.: 312-853-7036

    (b)   if to the Executive, to:

          Bruce Mason
          618 Dock Drive
          Barrington, Illinois 60010
          Facsimile No.: 847-381-8416

          with a copy to:

          Melvin S. Adess
          Kirkland & Ellis
          200 East Randolph Drive
          Chicago, Illinois 60601
          Facsimile No.: 312-861-2200

    18. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall
be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law,
but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect under applicable law or rule in any jurisdiction,
such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect the validity,
legality or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement or the
validity, legality or enforceability of such provision in any other
jurisdiction, but this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in
such jurisdiction as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision had
never been contained herein.

    19. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and
understanding between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes and preempts any prior understanding, agreements or representations
by or between the parties, written or oral, which may have related in any manner
to the subject matter hereof; it being understood that this Agreement relates to
the terms of the Executive's employment from and after the date hereof and
nothing herein supersedes or preempts the Existing Employment Agreement insofar
as it applies to periods prior to the date hereof.

    20. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be enforceable by the
Executive and his heirs, executors, administrators and legal representatives,
and by the Company and its successors and permitted assigns. Any successor of
the Company shall assume the liabilities of the Company hereunder. This
Agreement shall not be assigned by the Company other than to a successor
pursuant to a merger, consolidation or transfer
<PAGE>

of all or substantially all of the capital stock or assets of the Company. The
Executive's rights pursuant to this Agreement shall continue notwithstanding any
change in control (as defined in the Directors Part-Time Employment Agreement).

    21. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Illinois without
regard to principles of conflict of laws.

    22. Amendment and Waiver. The provisions of this Agreement may be amended or
waived only by the written agreement of the Company and the Executive, and no
course of conduct or failure or delay in enforcing the provisions of this
Agreement shall affect the validity, binding effect or enforceability of this
Agreement.

    23. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed to be an original and both of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.

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

                        TRUE NORTH COMMUNICATIONS INC.

                             By: /s/ Richard P. Mayer
                                 --------------------
                                 Richard P. Mayer
                                 Chairman of the Compensation
                                 Committee of the Board of
                                 Directors

                             /s/ Bruce Mason
                             ---------------
                             Bruce Mason

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