Document:

Prepared by R.R. Donnelley Financial -- Amendment dated as of July 3, 2002

 Exhibit 10.1 
  
 AMENDMENT, dated as of July 3, 2002 (this “Amendment”) among IPC ACQUISITION CORP. (formerly known as GS IPC Acquisition Corp.), a Delaware corporation (“Purchaser”), IPC INFORMATION SYSTEMS
INC., a Delaware corporation (“IPC”), IPC INFORMATION SYSTEMS (AUSTRALIA) PTY. LTD. (formerly known as Asia Global Crossing IPC Trading Systems Australia Pty Ltd., and, collectively, with IPC and their respective subsidiaries, the
“IPC Entities”), ASIA GLOBAL CROSSING ASIA PACIFIC COMMERCIAL LTD. (“Asia GC”), a Hong Kong corporation, GLOBAL CROSSING LIMITED (“GC”), a Bermuda corporation, and GLOBAL CROSSING TELECOMMUNICATIONS
INC. (“GCT”), a Michigan corporation, to the NETWORK SERVICES, CHANNEL SALES AND TRANSITIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT, dated as of December 20, 2001 (the “Agreement”) among the parties to this Amendment. The
aforementioned entities are sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Party” and collectively as “Parties.” 
  
 WHEREAS, the Parties to this Amendment entered into the Agreement; 
  
 WHEREAS, on the Filing Date, GC and GCT filed chapter 11 cases under title 11 of the United States Code; 
  
 WHEREAS, on March 11, 2002, IPC filed a motion to compel GC and GCT to assume or reject the Agreement; and 
  
 WHEREAS, in connection with such motion and to resolve certain matters between them, the Parties desire to amend the terms of the Agreement. 
  
 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

  
 SECTION 1.    Definitions.    Capitalized terms used in this
Amendment and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement. The following terms shall have the meanings specified below: 
  
 “Bankruptcy Court” shall mean the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. 
  
 “Filing Date” shall mean January 28, 2002. 
  
 “IPC 401(k) Beneficiaries” shall mean employees of the IPC Entities following the purchase of the IPC Entities on December 20, 2001. 

 
 “Payment Date” shall mean the second business day after the order of the Bankruptcy Court approving the
Amendment becomes a Final Order. 
  
 “Settlement Date” shall be May 31, 2002. 

  
 SECTION 2.    Agreement on Amounts Owed. 

 

	 	(a)
	 
	As of the Settlement Date, the IPC Entities are indebted to GC and GCT under the Agreement in the aggregate amount of $2,185,655, such indebtedness representing
$1,604,394 for services performed by the GCT Group for the IPC Group prior to the Filing Date (the “IPC Prepetition Debt”) and $581,261 relating to services performed by the GCT Group for the IPC Group from and after the Filing Date
(the “IPC Postpetition Debt”). 
 

  

	 	(b)
	 
	As of the Settlement Date, GC and GCT are indebted to the IPC Entities under the Agreement in the aggregate amount of $260,330, such indebtedness representing
$204,021 for services performed by the IPC Group for the GCT Group prior to the Filing Date (the “GCT Prepetition Debt”) and $56,309 relating to services performed by the IPC Group for the GCT Group from and after the Filing Date
(the “GCT Postpetition Debt”). 
 

  

	 	(c)
	 
	On the Payment Date (i) the IPC Prepetition Debt shall be set off against the GCT Prepetition Debt, resulting in a net amount owing to GC and GCT by the IPC
Group of $1,400,373 as of the Settlement Date (the “Net IPC Prepetition Debt”) and (ii) the IPC Postpetition Debt shall be set off against the GCT Postpetition Debt, resulting in a net amount owing to GC and GCT by the IPC Group of
$524,952 (the “Net IPC Postpetition Debt”), subject to the reduction set forth in Section 2(e) hereof. 
 

  

	 	(d)
	 
	GC and GCT shall not institute any legal action to collect, or otherwise attempt to collect, the Net IPC Prepetition Debt until the earlier of (i) the date that
the Bankruptcy Court determines whether the IPC Group has any right of setoff, recoupment, or similar right with respect to GC and GCT, or (ii) the date upon which the parties execute a written agreement providing for such setoff, recoupment or
exercise of a similar right; provided, that each of GC, GCT and IPC shall be permitted to institute legal action to the extent necessary to acquire a determination from the Bankruptcy Court as to any right of setoff, recoupment, or similar
right that the IPC Group may have. 
 

  

	 	(e)
	 
	The IPC Group shall satisfy the Net IPC Postpetition Debt in full by (i) paying $80,952 to GC on the Payment Date (the “IPC Payment”) and (ii)
entering into this Amendment. 
 

  

	 	(f)
	 
	On the Payment Date, the IPC Group shall pay to the 401(k) plan in which the IPC 401(k) Beneficiaries participate the 401(k)-related amounts, up to $44,000,
currently due and owing by any of the Parties with respect to the IPC 401(k) Beneficiaries. 
 

  
 SECTION 3.    Acknowledgements and Release.    With the exception of the Net IPC Prepetition Debt, the IPC Payment shall settle all outstanding payment obligations owing between the
Parties under the Agreement accruing at any time prior to the Filing Date through and including the Settlement Date. With the exception of the Net IPC Prepetition Debt and the
 
 

 2 

 
payment of the IPC Payment, or as otherwise specifically set forth herein, this Amendment shall constitute a full and complete discharge, satisfaction, and release of any and all claims, causes
of action, actions, suits, debts, dues, sums of money, accounts, reckonings, bonds, bills, specialties, controversies, agreements, promises, variances, trespasses, damages, judgments, extents, executions, and demands whatsoever that the GCT Group,
on the one hand, and the IPC Group and the Purchaser, on the other hand, have had or have against the other in respect of any payment obligations arising out of or pursuant to the Agreement as of the Settlement Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Parties shall remain obligated to each other for all other obligations under the Agreement, as modified hereby, and for any payment obligations which may arise or accrue after the Settlement Date. Subject to the payment of the IPC Payment
pursuant to Section 2(e) hereof, and further subject to the payment or, if appropriate, offset, recoupment or other similar right of the Net IPC Prepetition Debt, each Party acknowledges that the other Parties and their affiliates, have complied
with all of their respective obligations under the Agreement as of the Settlement Date and waives any rights it may have respecting any nonperformance; provided, that the foregoing acknowledgement and waiver shall not apply to any act or
omission that would have constituted a breach of the IPC Group’s non payment obligations under the Agreement after giving effect to this Amendment, as if this Amendment had been in full force and effect as of the effective date of the
Agreement. 
  
 SECTION 4.    Effectiveness of Amendment.    Within two
(2) business days following the execution of this Amendment, GC shall submit to the Bankruptcy Court a proposed order, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. This Amendment shall not become effective until the first business day
following the day (a) the Amendment has been authorized and approved by an order of the Bankruptcy Court substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, but without any changes that would adversely affect the rights of the IPC Group, GC or
GCT hereunder, and (b) such order of the Bankruptcy Court is no longer subject to appeal or certiorari proceeding and as to which no appeal or certiorari proceeding is pending (the “Final Order”). Unless and until such order is
entered and has become a Final Order, this Amendment shall be null and void and of no force and effect, shall be without prejudice to the Parties hereto and shall not be referred to by either of the Parties for any purpose whatsoever except as to
and for the purposes of this Section 4. Such authorization and approval by the Bankruptcy Court pursuant to the Final Order shall constitute the granting of appropriate authority and a direction to the Parties hereto to take all actions and execute
all documents as may be necessary to implement the terms hereof. 
  
 SECTION 5.    Amendment
to Article I.    The following definition is hereby added to Section 1.1: 
  
 “Suspension Termination Date” shall mean the earlier to occur of (i) the effective date of a chapter 11 plan of reorganization under title 11 of the United States Code for GC, GCT, Global Crossing Bandwidth Inc.,
Global Crossing Development Company Inc., Global Crossing USA Inc., Global Crossing Holdings Ltd., GC Pan European Crossing Luxembourg I S.a.r.l., and South American Crossing Holdings Ltd. in their respective chapter 11 cases, filed on January 28,
2002, which plan does not include a sale other than a sale of the type referred to in clause (ii) below, or (ii) the sale of all or substantially all the assets of the entities identified in clause (i) of this definition to a single buyer or group
of buyers acting in concert. 
 

 3 

  
 SECTION 6.    Amendment to Article II of the
Agreement.    Article II of the Agreement is hereby amended by adding a new Section 2.4 at the end thereof as follows: 
  
 “2.4  Suspension of the GCT Group as Preferred Provider.    The obligations of the IPC Group under Section 2.1 shall be suspended and shall be of no force or
effect until the day immediately following the Suspension Termination Date. GCT shall provide written notice of the Suspension Termination Date on or before such date to IPC at the address specified in Section 6.4. Any suspension of the obligations
hereunder shall not toll or otherwise affect the term of the obligations under Section 2.1.” 
  
 SECTION
7.    Amendment to Article III of the Agreement.    Article III of the Agreement is hereby amended by adding a new Section 3.2 at the end thereof as follows: 
  
 “3.2  Suspension of Channel Sales Obligations.    The obligations of the IPC Group under Section
3.1(b) and (c) shall be suspended and shall be of no force or effect until the day immediately following the Suspension Termination Date. GCT shall provide written notice of the Suspension Termination Date on or before such date to IPC at the
address specified in Section 6.4. Any suspension of the obligations hereunder shall not toll or otherwise affect the term of the obligations under Section 3.1(b) and (c).” 
  
 SECTION 8.    Amendment to Article IV of the Agreement.    Article IV of the Agreement is hereby amended by adding a
new Section 4.2 at the end thereof as follows: 
  
 “4.2  Suspension of Non-Competition
Obligations.    The obligations of the IPC Group under Section 4.1(a) shall be suspended and shall be of no force or effect until the day immediately following the Suspension Termination Date; provided, however,
that after the Suspension Termination Date the IPC Group may continue to provide or perform any service or otherwise engage in any activity that would have been prohibited by this Article IV had Section 4.1(a) not been suspended, so long as such
services or activities were commenced before the Suspension Termination Date, or such services or activities are provided or performed after the Suspension Termination Date pursuant to a definitive agreement to perform such activities or provide
such services, which agreement was executed on or after the Filing Date, and before the Suspension Termination Date. GCT shall provide written notice of the Suspension Termination Date on or before such date to IPC at the address specified in
Section 6.4. Any suspension of the obligations hereunder shall not toll or otherwise affect the term of the obligations under Section 4.1(a).” 
  
 SECTION 9.    Amendment to Article V of the Agreement.    (a) Section 5.2(a) of the Agreement is hereby amended (i) by deleting and replacing the words
“For a period not to exceed ninety (90) days after the Closing Date,” in the first sentence with the words “For a period not to exceed the earlier of (x) September 30, 2002, and (y) the date that the GCT Group moves its
telecommunications system to a system completely independent of the IPC Group’s
 
 

 4 

 
telecommunications system,” and (ii) by deleting the words “ninety (90) day” in the last sentence. 
  
 Section 5.2(e) of the Agreement is hereby amended by deleting and replacing the words “for a period not to exceed one hundred and eighty (180) days
following the Closing Date,” in the first sentence with the words “until September 30, 2002,”. 
  
 (b)  Section 5.3(a) of the Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows: 
  
 “(a)  The IPC Group shall permit the GCT Group to continue to have access to and use of the IPC Group’s AS 400 System (located as of the date hereof in Westbrook, Connecticut) and certain software related to the
AS 400, including JBA Billing, JBA Ledger System and Score System, until September 30, 2002, for the purpose of supporting certain of the GCT Group’s systems in substantially the same manner in which they are supported as of the Closing Date.
The IPC Group shall make or cause to be made all reasonable accommodation to allow the GCT Group’s access to and use of such systems and software during such time period.” 
  
 (c)  Section 5.3 of the Agreement is hereby amended by adding a new subsection 5.3(k) at the end thereof as follows: 
  
 “(k)  The IPC Group shall relinquish any and all rights it may hold in its “Class B License” issued by the
American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN) or its predecessor, the InterNic, for the following block of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses: 159.63.0.0 to 159.63.255.255. The IPC Group shall not object to or otherwise take any action to prevent the
registration of the Class B License by GC, GCT or any of their respective affiliates.” 
  
 (d)  Section 5.3 of the Agreement is hereby amended by adding a new subsection 5.3(l) at the end thereof as follows: 
  
 “(l)  Each of the Parties agrees to provide or cause to be provided as promptly as practicable to the other Parties, and further agrees to grant to the other Parties reasonable and
prompt access to, any and all documents and information reasonably requested by any Party related to human resources information, payroll, federal, state or local taxes, contingent liabilities owed by any Party for which another Party may be held
liable, or any other document or information necessary for the Parties to fulfill their obligations hereunder to one another or to any third party.” 
  
 SECTION 10.    (a)  Amendment to Article VI of the Agreement.    The addresses set forth for the provision of notice to GC in Section 6.4 of the
Agreement shall be amended and restated as follows: 
  
 “If to Global Crossing Limited: 
 

 5 

  
 Global Crossing Limited 
 7 Giralda Farms 
 Madison, NJ 07940 
 Facsimile: (973) 410-8583 
 Attention: General Counsel 
  
 With a copy to: 
  
 Simpson Thacher
& Bartlett 
 425 Lexington Avenue 
 New York, NY 10017

 Facsimile: 212-455-2502 
 Attention: Alan M. Klein and
Rhett Brandon, Esq. 
  
 and 
  
 Weil, Gotshal, & Manges 
 767 Fifth Avenue 
 New York, NY 10153 
 Attention: Michael Walsh and 
 Arthur Cormier” 
  
 (b)  Amendment to Section
6.11(c) of the Agreement.    Section 6.11(c) of the Agreement is hereby amended by (i) deleting the words “the GCT Group” in the third line and replacing them with the words “GC, GCT, and Asia Global Crossing
Asia Pacific Commercial Limited” and (ii) deleting the word “hereunder” in the fourth line and replacing it with the words “under this Agreement, as amended.” 
  
 SECTION 11.    Miscellaneous. 
  

	 	(a)
	 
	Except as otherwise expressly modified by this Amendment, the Agreement is, and shall continue to be, in full force and effect in accordance with its terms.

 

  

	 	(b)
	 
	This Amendment may be executed by the Parties on one or more counterparts, and all of such counterparts shall be deemed to constitute one and the same
instrument. This Amendment may be delivered by facsimile transmission of the relevant signature pages hereof. 
 

  

	 	(c)
	 
	GC and GCT will use their reasonable efforts to obtain the agreement and signature of Asia Global Crossing Asia Pacific Limited to this Amendment. In the event
that Asia Global Crossing Asia Pacific Commercial Ltd. does not execute this Amendment, nevertheless, subject to the requirements of Section 4, the terms of this Amendment shall be binding upon IPC Acquisition Corporation, IPC Information Systems,
Inc., Asia Global Crossing IPC Trading Systems Australia Pty Ltd., Global Crossing Ltd. and Global Crossing Telecommunications, Inc. with respect to each other. 
 

  

	 	(d)
	 
	The GC Entities hereby represent and warrant the following: 
 

 

 6 

  

	 	(i)
	 
	GC is the ultimate parent company of all the companies in the GCT Group; 
 

  

	 	(ii)
	 
	GC Pan European Crossing Luxembourg I S.a.r.l., directly or indirectly owns or controls substantially all the assets and operating companies of Global Crossing
in the European region; 
 

  

	 	(iii)
	 
	South American Crossing Holdings Ltd. directly or indirectly owns or controls substantially all the assets and operating companies of Global Crossing in the
Latin American and Caribbean regions; 
 

  

	 	(iv)
	 
	Global Crossing Holdings Ltd. directly or indirectly owns or controls substantially all of the assets and operating companies of Global Crossing in the Asia
region; and 
 

  

	 	(v)
	 
	collectively, the Global Crossing companies referred to in the definition of Suspension Termination Date conduct, either directly or through their subsidiaries,
substantially all of the business of Global Crossing worldwide. 
 

  

	 	(e)
	 
	THIS AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 
 

  
 Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank 
 

 7 

  
 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly
executed as of the date first above written. 
  
 
	 GLOBAL CROSSING TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    CARL GRIVNER        
 

	  	 	 Name: Carl Grivner
 Title: Chief
Operating Officer
 

 
  
 
	 GLOBAL CROSSING LTD.
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    CARL GRIVNER        
 

	  	 	 Name: Carl Grivner
 Title: Chief
Operating Officer
 

 
  
 
	 IPC ACQUISITION CORP.
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    GREGORY S. KENEPP        

	  	 	 Name: Gregory S. Kenepp
 Title:
President
 

 
  
 
	 IPC INFORMATION SYSTEMS, INC.
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    GREGORY S. KENEPP        

	  	 	 Name: Gregory S. Kenepp
 Title:
President
 

 
  
 
	 ASIA GLOBAL CROSSING IPC TRADING SYSTEMS AUSTRALIA
PTY LTD.
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 /s/    GREGORY S. KENEPP        

	  	 	 Name: Gregory S. Kenepp
 Title:
Officer
 

 
  
 
	 ASIA GLOBAL CROSSING ASIA PACIFIC COMMERCIAL
LTD.
 
	 
	 By:
 	 	 

	  	 	 Name:
 Title:
 

 
 

 8<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                    AMENDED AND RESTATED EXECUTIVE AGREEMENT
                    ----------------------------------------

                  THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED EXECUTIVE AGREEMENT (this
"Agreement") is made as of April 30, 2002, by and between Ziff Davis Holdings
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), Ziff Davis Publishing Inc., a
Delaware corporation and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of the Company
("Publishing"), and Robert F. Callahan ("Executive"). The Company, Publishing
and Executive are sometimes collectively referred to herein as "Parties" and
individually as "Party". Upon execution and delivery of this Agreement by each
of the Parties, this Agreement shall replace the Prior Agreement (as defined
below) and shall be deemed to have taken effect as of October 1, 2001 (the
"Effective Date"). Certain definitions are set forth in Section 16 of this
Agreement.

                  Executive desires to be employed by Publishing, and Publishing
desires to employ Executive and to be assured of its right to have the benefit
of Executive's services on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. In
connection with such employment, Executive desires to acquire from the Company,
and the Company desires to issue and sell or grant certain equity interests to
Executive.

                  The Company and its Subsidiaries are currently pursuing a
proposed restructuring of their existing senior credit facility and their
existing senior subordinated notes (the "Restructuring"). Executive has been
involved in the negotiation of the terms of the Restructuring and is
knowledgeable about the material terms of the Restructuring. If the
Restructuring is consummated on the terms currently being discussed with the
parties thereto, the Company would issue shares of two new classes of capital
stock: Series D Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Series D
Preferred"), which would be senior to all existing classes of capital stock of
the Company; and Series E Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, which would
be senior to all existing classes of capital stock of the Company other than the
Series D Preferred. It is anticipated that the Company would issue Series D
Preferred to WS Fund III and certain of the Company's existing institutional
shareholders as part of the Restructuring.

                  Concurrently with the consummation of the Restructuring, the
Company intends to grant to Executive options to purchase shares of capital
stock, on terms consistent with the terms of Section 2 of this Agreement. Such
options shall be granted pursuant to a 2002 Employee Stock Option Plan (the
"Plan"), which has been reviewed by the Executive but has not yet been adopted
by the Board of the Company.

                  Upon the issuance of shares of Series D Preferred as part of
the Restructuring, Executive, WS Fund III and certain other Investors that may
purchase shares of Series D Preferred in the Restructuring shall enter into an
agreement pursuant to which WS Fund III and such other Investors shall grant
Executive an option to purchase from WS Fund III and the other Investors shares
of Series D Preferred purchased by WS Fund III and the other Investors as part
of the Restructuring. The exercise price per share covered by such option shall
be equal to the initial purchase price paid by WS Fund III and the other
Investors to purchase such shares of Series D Preferred. The number of shares of
Series D Preferred covered by such options shall be determined on a basis
consistent with how the compensation committee of the Company's Board grants the

<PAGE>

Options to Executive. The form of agreement pursuant to which such options will
be granted has been reviewed and approved by the Executive and WS Fund III.

                  The Parties desire to enter into this Agreement to (i) set
forth the terms of the future grant of the Options; (ii) provide the Company
with certain rights in respect of the Executive Stock; (iii) set forth the terms
and conditions of Executive's employment with Publishing; and (iv) set forth the
obligation of Executive to refrain from competing with the Company and its
Affiliates under certain circumstances as provided herein.

                  To accomplish the foregoing, the parties desire to amend and
restate that Executive Agreement among the Parties dated October 1, 2001 (the
"Prior Agreement") in its entirety.

                  NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

                               A. GRANT OF OPTIONS

         1. Investor Rights Agreement. As a condition precedent to the Company's
obligations to grant to Executive the Options, Executive must execute and
deliver to the Company a counterpart signature page of the Investor Rights
Agreement, (pursuant to which Executive shall become a party thereto, and
thereby shall benefit from the rights and be subject to the obligations of one
of the "New Stockholders" thereunder).

         2.  Stock Options.

         (a) Grant. Concurrently with the consummation of the Restructuring, the
Company shall grant to Executive options (each an "Option" and collectively, the
"Options") to purchase shares of Series A Preferred, at an exercise price per
share equal to $0.001, shares of Series B Preferred, at an exercise price per
share equal to $1,000; and shares of Common Stock, at an exercise price per
share equal to $0.001. The form of option agreement pursuant to which the
Options will be granted is attached hereto as Exhibit A. The number of shares of
Series A Preferred, Series B Preferred, and Common Stock to be covered by the
Options shall be determined by the compensation committee of the Board of the
Company promptly following the adoption of the Plan.

         (b) Exercisable Only to Extent Vested. The Options shall initially not
be exercisable and thereafter shall be exercisable only to the extent deemed
vested pursuant to Section 6 below.

         (c) Options Term. The Options shall expire at the close of business on,
and in no event shall the Options be exercisable in whole or in part at any time
after, the later of (i) the tenth anniversary of the date hereof and (ii) a Sale
of the Company (the "Expiration Date"); provided that the Options shall be
subject to earlier expiration as follows:

                  (i) If Executive's employment with Publishing or any of its
Affiliates under the control of the Company is terminated for Cause, Executive
resigns from Company Employment (other than for Good Reason) at any time prior
to December 31, 2004 or Executive breaches any of his obligations under any of
Sections 12, 13 and 14 of this Agreement (except any breach which Executive
carries the burden of proving is solely of a technical nature, is immaterial and
was

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

inadvertent), then the Options shall immediately terminate and Executive shall
forfeit all rights with respect to the Options, regardless of whether the
Options, or any portion thereof, shall have become vested and/or exercisable
prior thereto; and

                  (ii) If Publishing terminates Executive's Company Employment
without Cause, Executive resigns from Company Employment for Good Reason prior
to December 31, 2004, or if Executive's Company Employment ceases as a result of
the death or Incapacity of Executive, any portion of the Options that have not
vested pursuant to Section 6 below shall expire upon such Termination and the
Options shall not be exercisable in respect of such expired portion at any time
thereafter.

         (d) Exercise Procedures. Each Option shall be exercisable by Executive
(or a transferee pursuant to Section 7(h)(i) below), to the extent it has
vested, is outstanding and is exercisable in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, at any time and from time to time prior to the Expiration Date (or
any earlier date of expiration as provided above) by delivering written notice
to the Company and written acknowledgment that Executive has read and has been
afforded an opportunity to ask questions of management of the Company regarding
all financial and other information provided to Executive regarding the Company,
together with payment of the Exercise Price in respect of the Option Shares to
be purchased in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and such
Option. As a condition to any exercise of an Option, Executive shall permit the
Company to deliver to Executive all financial and other information regarding
the Company it believes necessary to enable Executive to make an informed
investment decision, and Executive shall make all customary investment
representations which the Company requires. Executive shall be required, as a
condition precedent to Executive's right to exercise each Option, at Executive's
expense, to supply the Company with such evidence, agreements and other
assurances (including, but not limited to, opinions of counsel satisfactory to
the Company) as the Company then may deem necessary or desirable, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Company's counsel, in order to establish to the
satisfaction of the Company that the sale of securities by reason of such
exercise shall be in compliance with applicable law, including the Securities
Act. In addition, as a condition to the issuance of Option Shares upon
Executive's exercise of an Option, the Company may, in its sole discretion,
require that Executive become a party to any stockholder agreement then in
effect. Executive shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to the
Option Shares issuable under an Option until and unless all conditions to the
Company's obligations to issue such Option Shares have been satisfied.

         3. Representations and Warranties by the Company. In connection with
the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company represents and
warrants to Executive as of the date hereof that:

         (a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i)
400,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which 74,985,784.83 shares are issued and
outstanding; (ii) 350,000 shares of Series A Preferred, of which 337,582.50
shares are issued and outstanding, (iii) 142,500 shares of Series B Preferred,
of which 101,135.56657 shares are issued and outstanding and (iv) 7,500 shares
of Series C Preferred, of which 5,322.92456 shares are issued and outstanding
(and convertible into 266,146,228 shares of Common Stock). Under its current
stock option plans the Company is authorized to issue stock options for the
purchase of up to 2,630,000 shares of Common Stock.

                                      -3-

<PAGE>

         (b) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been
duly and validly authorized by the Company's board of directors. This Agreement
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in
accordance with its terms.

         4. Representations and Warranties by Executive. In connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, Executive represents and warrants to
the Company that:

         (a) This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation
of Executive, enforceable in accordance with its terms, and the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement by Executive does not and shall not
conflict with, violate or cause a breach of any agreement, contract or
instrument to which Executive is a party or any judgment, order or decree to
which Executive is subject, including without limitation the confidentiality
agreement referred to in clause (b) following.

         (b) Executive is not a party to or bound by any employment agreement,
noncompete agreement or confidentiality agreement with any person or entity
other than the Company or Publishing, except that Executive is party to a
confidentiality agreement with ABC, Inc., the performance of which by Executive
shall not conflict with, violate or cause a breach of this Agreement or any
obligation or duty of Executive to any of the Company and its Affiliates.

         (c) Executive has consulted with independent legal counsel regarding
his rights and obligations under this Agreement and that he fully understands
the terms and conditions contained herein. Executive has obtained advice from
persons other than the Company and its counsel regarding the tax effects of the
transaction contemplated hereby.

         (d) Executive has reviewed, or has had an opportunity to review, the
Investor Rights Agreement.

         5. Further Acknowledgment. Executive acknowledges and agrees that
neither the issuance of securities or the Options to him by the Company nor any
provision contained herein, therein or in any other agreement or document shall
entitle Executive to remain in the employment of Publishing or any of its
Affiliates.

                  B. VESTING AND REPURCHASE OF EXECUTIVE STOCK

         6. Vesting. Once granted, each Option shall vest in accordance with the
following schedule, if as of each such date Executive is, and has been,
continuously since the date hereof Employed by the Company:

                                      -4-

<PAGE>

                                                        Cumulative Percentage
                        Date                             of Option Vested
                 ------------------                     ---------------------
                  December 31, 2002                           33.3%
                  December 31, 2003                           66.7%
                  December 31, 2004                           100.0%

If Executive ceases to be Employed by the Company on any date other than a date
set forth on the schedule above prior to December 31, 2004, the cumulative
percentage of each Option to become vested shall be determined on a pro rata
basis according to the number of days elapsed since the prior date set forth on
the schedule above (or, if prior to December 31, 2002, since the Effective Date)
and any portion of such Option that was not vested on such date on which
Executive ceased to be Employed by the Company shall be deemed unvested (except
as provided in subparagraphs (i) through (iv) below). Notwithstanding the
foregoing:

                  (i) the unvested portion of each Option shall become fully
vested upon the consummation of a Sale of the Company if as of such date,
Executive is, and since the Effective Date has been, continuously Employed by
the Company through the date of the consummation of such Sale of the Company,

                  (ii) if the Company effects a pro rata redemption of any
portion of its outstanding Series A Preferred or the Series B Preferred owned by
the Investors, the Option for such series of stock will vest immediately prior
to such redemption to the extent needed so that the percentage of the Option
that has vested on a cumulative basis with respect to such series shall be equal
to the cumulative percentage of Series A Preferred or Series B Preferred, as
applicable, owned by such Investors (determined based on the highest number of
shares of such series that were ever issued and outstanding and owned by the
Investors as compared to the aggregate shares of such series that have been
redeemed by the Company) that is being redeemed (or has been redeemed) by the
Company. For the avoidance of doubt, this Section 6(ii) shall not apply to any
redemptions of Series A Preferred or Series B Preferred that the Company
undertakes pursuant to any purchase or repurchase rights it has or may have upon
the termination of employment of any current or former employee of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries;

                  (iii) if Publishing terminates Executive's Company Employment
without Cause on a date following execution of the definitive agreement
providing for a Sale of the Company, Executive has since the Effective Date and
until such Termination been continuously Employed by the Company, and a Sale of
the Company is consummated within 9 months following such Termination and on
substantially the terms and with the purchaser(s) set forth in such agreement as
in effect prior to such Termination, then the unvested portion of each Option
shall become fully vested upon the consummation of such Sale of the Company; and

                  (iv) if Publishing terminates Executive's Company Employment
without Cause, Executive ceases to be Employed by the Company on account of his
resignation for Good Reason, or Executive ceases to be Employed by the Company
as a result of the death or Incapacity of Executive, the portion of each Option
which would have vested solely on account of the passage of time (and not any
vesting which would have occurred upon the happening of any other event) during

                                      -5-

<PAGE>

the 12 month period following such Termination on the pro rata basis described
above shall become immediately vested (with any remaining unvested portion of
such Option expiring and being forfeited). (For example, if such Termination
should occur on April 30, 2003, Executive's employment shall, for purposes of
the first two sentences of this Section 6, be deemed to have been terminated on
April 30, 2004 with the result that the cumulative percentage of Options which
would have vested through April 30, 2004, pursuant to the above table, shall be
deemed vested, but if there is a consummation of a Sale of the Company during
such 12-month period, Executive will not get the benefit of subsection (i) above
(i.e., will not get full vesting) and Executive shall not be considered as being
employed by the Company during such 12-month period for any purpose other than
such 12-month advanced vesting.)

         7.  Purchase Option.

         (a) Generally. Upon Termination, the Executive Stock, whether held by
Executive or one or more Permitted Transferees, will be subject to purchase by
the Company and the Investors pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in
this Section 7 (the " Purchase Option").

                  (i) Termination With Cause; Resignation Other Than For Good
Reason. Upon a Termination with Cause or a resignation by Executive other than
for Good Reason on or prior to December 31, 2004, then the Company and the
Investors may elect to purchase all or any portion of the Executive Stock at a
price per share equal to the lesser of the Original Cost thereof and the Fair
Market Value thereof.

                  (ii) Termination Without Cause; Resignation For Good Reason;
Resignation Other Than For Good Reason After December 31, 2004; Death or
Incapacity. Upon a Termination (A) by Publishing without Cause, (B) resulting
from a resignation by Executive for Good Reason, (C) resulting from a
resignation by Executive other than for Good Reason after December 31, 2004 or
(D) resulting from Executive's death or Incapacity, the Executive Stock shall
not be subject to purchase hereunder.

         (b) Purchase Procedures. After a Termination giving rise to a right of
purchase under Section 7, the Company may elect to exercise the right to
purchase Executive Stock (in the amounts and for the prices set forth in Section
7(a)) pursuant to the Purchase Option by delivering written notice (the
"Purchase Notice") to the holder or holders of Executive Stock at any time prior
to the date which is six months after the Termination Date. The Purchase Notice
will set forth the number of shares of each class and type of Executive Stock to
be acquired from such holder(s), the aggregate consideration to be paid for such
shares of Executive Stock and the time and place for the closing of the
transaction. If any shares of Executive Stock are held by Permitted Transferees,
the Company shall purchase the shares each class and type of Executive Stock
elected to be purchased from such holder(s) of Executive Stock pro rata
according to the number of shares of such class and type of Executive Stock held
by such holder(s) at the time of delivery of such Purchase Notice (determined as
nearly as practicable to the nearest share).

      (c)    Rights of the Investors.

                                      -6-

<PAGE>

                  (i) If for any reason the Company does not elect to purchase
all of the Executive Stock pursuant to the Purchase Option, the Investors will
be entitled to exercise the Purchase Option, in the manner set forth in this
Section 7, for all or any portion of the shares of Executive Stock which the
Company has not elected to purchase (the "Available Shares"). As soon as
practicable after the Company determines that there will be any Available
Shares, but in any event upon the earlier of (A) the delivery of the Purchase
Notice and (B) the next business day following the expiration of the period
during which the Company may exercise its right to purchase the applicable
shares of Executive Stock, the Company will deliver written notice (the "Option
Notice") to the Investors, setting forth the number of each class and type of
Available Shares and the price for each Available Share. Investors holding a
majority of the shares of Common Stock held by the Investors, including shares
of Common Stock issuable upon exercise or conversion of capital stock, warrants
or other rights held by Investors, may waive all or any rights of the Investors
pursuant to this Agreement, provided that no such waiver shall be effective
unless in writing.

                  (ii) The Investors will be permitted to purchase all or any
portion of the Available Shares by delivering written notice (an "Election
Notice") to the Company within 30 days after receipt of the Option Notice from
the Company (such 30-day period being referred to herein as the "Investor
Election Period"); provided that if more than one Investor elects to purchase
any or all Available Shares of any type or class and the number of Available
Shares of such type or class is less than the aggregate number of Available
Shares of such type or class elected to be purchased by such electing Investors,
each Investor shall be entitled to purchase the lesser of (i) the number of
shares of such type or class such Investor has elected to purchase as indicated
in the Election Notice or (ii) the number of shares of such type or class
obtained by multiplying the number of shares specified in the Option Notice by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock (on a
fully-diluted basis) held by such Investor and the denominator of which is the
aggregate number of shares of Common Stock (on a fully-diluted basis) held by
all electing Investors. If any Available Shares of such type or class remain
after giving effect to such allocation, such allocation shall be repeated until
either all of the Available Shares of such type or class requested to be
purchased by the electing Investors have been so allocated or no Available
Shares of such type or class are available for purchase.

         (d) Supplemental Purchase Notice. As soon as practicable but in any
event within five business days after the expiration of the Investor Election
Period, the Company will, if necessary, notify the holder(s) of Executive Stock
as to the number of shares of Executive Stock being purchased from such
holder(s) by the Investors (the "Supplemental Purchase Notice"). At the time the
Company delivers a Supplemental Purchase Notice to the holder(s) of Executive
Stock, the Company will also deliver to the Investors written notice setting
forth the number of shares of Executive Stock the Company and the Investors will
acquire, the aggregate purchase price to be paid and the time and place of the
closing of the transaction.

         (e) Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this
Section 7 will take place on the date designated by the Company in the Purchase
Notice or the Supplemental Purchase Notice, as the case may be, which date will
not be more than 60 days after the delivery of the later of such notices, as the
case may be. The Company and/or the Investors, as the case may be, will pay for
the shares of Executive Stock to be purchased pursuant to the Purchase Option by
delivery of, (i) in the case of the Company, (A) a check payable to the
holder(s) of such shares of Executive

                                      -7-

<PAGE>

Stock, (B) by offsetting any amounts owed by Executive to Company under any bona
fide debt for borrowed money of Executive to the Company or its Affiliates
against the price for such shares of Executive Stock or (C) any combination of
(A) and (B) in the aggregate amount of the purchase price for such shares of
Executive Stock, (ii) in the case of the Investors, a check payable to the
holder(s) of such shares of Executive Stock, or (iii) in any such case, as the
holder(s) of such shares of Executive Stock and the purchaser(s) thereof may
otherwise agree. The Company and the Investors, as the case may be, will receive
customary representations and warranties from each seller of Executive Stock
regarding the sale of the Executive Stock, including but not limited to the
representation that such seller has good and marketable title to the shares of
Executive Stock to be transferred, free and clear of all liens, claims and other
encumbrances. Any Investor purchasing shares of Executive Stock pursuant to this
Section 7 shall at such time acknowledge its obligations pursuant to the last
sentence of Section 7(a)(i) above.

         (f) Restrictions on Repurchase. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this Agreement, all repurchases of Executive Stock by the
Company shall be subject to applicable restrictions contained in the Delaware
General Corporation Law and in the Company's and its Subsidiaries' debt and
equity financing agreements. If any such restrictions prohibit the repurchase of
Executive Stock hereunder which the Company is otherwise entitled to make, the
time periods in this Section 7 applicable to repurchases by the Company, or
purchases by the Investors, of Executive Stock (other than repurchases of
Incentive Shares, as to which the time periods set forth in the Section 7 shall
not be suspended or extended) shall be suspended and shall resume at such time
as the Company is permitted to do so under such restrictions, so that the
Company and the Investors may make such repurchases and purchases of Executive
Stock (other than repurchases of Incentive Shares) during the balance of such
period following such time as the Company becomes permitted to make such
purchases under such restrictions.

         (g) Termination of Purchase Right. The right of the Company and the
Investors to purchase shares of Executive Stock pursuant to this Section 7 shall
terminate upon the earlier of (i) a Sale of the Company, or (ii) if Executive
remains Employed by the Company continuously from the Effective Date through the
fifth anniversary of such date, upon such fifth anniversary (unless Publishing
terminates Executive's employment for Cause thereafter).

         (h) Additional Restrictions on Transfer.

                  (i) Until the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date,
Executive shall not Transfer any Executive Stock except (A) to a Permitted
Transferee in compliance with the provisions of Section 2D of the Investor
Rights Agreement (other than clause (i) thereof), (B) the sale of Executive
Stock pro rata with WS, based on holdings of Common Stock on a fully-diluted
basis, in a registered public offering effected pursuant to Section 9 or Section
10 of the Investor Rights Agreement, (C) sales of Executive Stock pursuant to
Section 2C of the Investor Rights Agreement, or (D) if, at any time after the
Company consummates a public offering of Common Stock which is registered under
the Securities Act and thereafter WS sells shares of Common Stock pursuant to
Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act, then at any time thereafter
Executive may sell up to the number of shares of Common Stock equal to (x) the
product of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock then held by Executive and
constituting Executive Stock, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of
which is the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock sold by WS pursuant to

                                      -8-

<PAGE>

Rule 144 and the denominator of which is the aggregate, maximum number of shares
of Common Stock held by WS, calculated on a fully-diluted basis (e.g., including
shares issuable upon conversion of shares of stock held by WS) at any time after
the date hereof, minus (y) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock sold
by Executive at or prior to such time pursuant to Rule 144. The restrictions set
forth in this Section 7(h)(i) shall terminate upon the consummation of a Sale of
the Company. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary,
Executive shall not Transfer any interest in the Option except pursuant to
applicable laws of descent and distribution.

                  (ii) All Executive Stock is subject to the additional
restrictions on Transfer set forth in the Investor Rights Agreement.

                  (iii) In addition to any other legend required pursuant to the
Investor Rights Agreement or otherwise, any certificates representing the
Executive Stock shall bear the following legend:

         "THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ORIGINALLY ISSUED
         ON ____________ ___, 2002, HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
         SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR UNDER ANY STATE
         SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF AN
         EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE
         SECURITIES LAWS OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION THEREUNDER. THE
         SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO
         ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER, CERTAIN PURCHASE OPTIONS AND
         CERTAIN OTHER AGREEMENTS SET FORTH IN AN AMENDED AND RESTATED EXECUTIVE
         AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND THE ORIGINAL HOLDER HEREOF DATED AS
         OF APRIL 30, 2002, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED BY THE HOLDER HEREOF
         AT THE COMPANY'S PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS WITHOUT CHARGE."

                   (iv) Opinion of Counsel. Executive may not sell, transfer or
dispose of any Executive Stock (except pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act) without first delivering to the Company an
opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable in form and substance to the Company
that registration under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities
law is not required in connection with such transfer.

                            C. EMPLOYMENT PROVISIONS

         8. Employment. Publishing shall employ Executive, and Executive hereby
accepts employment with Publishing, upon the terms and conditions set forth in
this Agreement for the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending as
provided in Section 11 hereof (the "Employment Period").

                                      -9-

<PAGE>

         9.  Position and Duties.

         (a) During the Employment Period, Executive shall serve as the
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Publishing and shall have the
normal duties, responsibilities and authority implied by such positions.
Executive shall hold similar positions with the Company and Ziff Davis Media
Inc. ("Media") as well as any entity controlled by the Company which the Board
determines to be a key affiliate, and Executive shall have the right to serve in
the same position with respect to all other Affiliates controlled by the Company
except to the extent (i) Executive votes as a director or otherwise approves the
election of another person to any such position, or (ii) applicable law
precludes Executive from holding such position in a foreign entity, provided
that Executive shall not be entitled to any additional compensation for serving
in such positions. So long as Executive remains employed in each of such
positions with Publishing, the Company, Media and each of such key Affiliates,
Executive shall be deemed to be "Employed by the Company" for purposes hereof,
and if Executive ceases for any reason to be employed in any of such positions
with any of such entities, Executive will be deemed to be no longer "Employed by
the Company", and his "Company Employment" shall be deemed to have ceased or
terminated. For the avoidance of doubt, Executive will be deemed to have
resigned from "Company Employment" if Executive resigns from any of such
positions with Publishing, the Company, Media or any of such key Affiliates.

         (b) Executive shall report directly to the Board of the Company and
shall devote his best efforts and substantially all of his business time and
attention (except for vacation periods contemplated hereby, periods of illness
or other incapacity, reasonable time spent with respect to civic and charitable
activities, service on the boards of directors of other companies as approved by
the Board of the Company and time devoted to matters for WS or portfolio
companies thereof, provided that none of such activities shall interfere with
Executive's duties to Publishing, and other permitted absences, if any, for
which senior executive employees of Publishing are generally eligible from time
to time under Publishing's policies) to the business and affairs of Publishing
and its Affiliates. Executive shall perform Executive's duties and
responsibilities to the best of Executive's abilities in a diligent,
trustworthy, businesslike and efficient manner.

         (c) Promptly after commencement of the Employment Period, Executive was
elected a member of the Board the Company so that the Board was then comprised
of Executive and its four then existing directors. Further, at Executive's
request, upon commencement of employment of the new CFO identified by Executive
and acceptable to the Board such CFO was elected to serve on the

         Company's Board. The Board will be expanded to include at least two,
and up to four, independent directors (though subject to removal by Company
stockholders).

         10. Base Salary; Benefits and Bonuses.

         (a) During the Employment Period, Executive's base salary shall be
$1,000,000 per annum, subject to an annual cost of living increase at the
beginning of each calendar year beginning January 1, 2003 at a rate equal to the
increase in the Consumer Price Index - All Urban Consumers for the New York area
during the prior year (but subject to a minimum annual increase of 2%), or such
higher rate as the Board of the Company may designate from time to time (the
"Base Salary"), which salary shall be payable by Publishing in regular
installments in accordance with Publishing's general payroll practices and shall
be subject to customary withholding.

                                      -10-

<PAGE>

         (b) In addition to the Base Salary, during the Employment Period
Executive shall be eligible to receive an annual bonus (the "Bonus") as follows:
(i) $250,000 will be payable in the first regular pay period of Publishing in
calendar year 2002 if Executive remains Employed by the Company through December
31, 2001; (ii) with regard to each of calendar years 2002, 2003 and 2004,
Executive shall have the opportunity to earn an annual target Bonus of up to
$1,000,000, so long as Executive remains Employed by the Company through
December 31 of the applicable calendar year and based upon the achievement of
performance targets for the applicable calendar year agreed upon by Executive
and the Board of the Company, which targets will include both quantitative and
qualitative objectives, provided that Executive's Bonus in respect of calendar
year 2002 will not be less then $500,000 (so long as Executive remains Employed
by the Company through December 31, 2002); and (iii) Executive shall be entitled
to an additional Bonus of $1,000,000 so long as Executive remains Employed by
the Company through December 31, 2004 and the Company generates consolidated
EBITDA for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2004 of at least
$125,000,000. Any such Bonus, if determined by the Board of the Company in good
faith to be payable, shall be payable within 90 days following the end of each
calendar year during the Employment Period, consistent with Publishing's
policies.

         (c) During the Employment Period, (i) Executive shall be entitled to
participate in all of Publishing's employee benefit plans and programs for which
senior executive employees of Publishing are generally eligible, which shall
include, but shall not be limited to, health insurance, dental insurance, life
insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance and participation in
Publishing's 401(k) plan, (ii) Executive shall be eligible for four (4) weeks of
paid vacation in accordance with the policies of Publishing, and (iii)
Publishing shall reimburse Executive for the reasonable, current portion of
premiums paid by Executive for up to $2 million of term life insurance for
Executive. Executive's right to participate in any employee benefit plans or
programs of Publishing shall be subject to Publishing's right to amend, modify
or terminate any such plan or program in accordance with its terms and
applicable law and subject in each case to any applicable waiting periods or
other restrictions contained in such benefit plans or programs. The short-term
disability insurance coverage referred to in clause (i) foregoing will be
effective at commencement of employment, and the family medical insurance
coverage referred to in clause (i) foregoing provided in respect of a mentally
or physically incapacitated child will not by its terms end on account of the
aging of the child (subject to the conditions described in the letter dated
September 21, 2001 from UnitedHealthcare to the Benefits Director, Ziff Davis
Media, a copy of which has been previously given to Executive). In addition,
Publishing will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain for Executive during
the Employment Period long-term disability coverage of $40,000 per month,
provided that Executive will pay all premium for such coverage to the extent in
excess of the amount of premium otherwise payable by Publishing for long-term
disability coverage pursuant to clause (i) foregoing.

         (d) Publishing shall reimburse Executive for all reasonable business
expenses incurred by Executive in the course of performing Executive's duties
under this Agreement which are consistent with Publishing's policies in effect
from time to time for senior executive employees of Publishing with respect to
travel, entertainment and other business expenses, subject to Publishing's
requirements with respect to reporting and documentation of such expenses. In
addition, Publishing will provide Executive an annual allowance of $100,000,
paid in monthly installments, to be used in Executive's discretion on a
nonaccountable basis for reimbursement of expenses incurred by

                                      -11-

<PAGE>

Executive such as the cost of an automobile, driver, club dues and other such
costs on an as-needed basis, other than expenses eligible for reimbursement
under Publishing's existing policies. Unless otherwise approved by the Board of
the Company, all payments under this allowance will be treated as compensation
for purposes of applicable tax laws and consequently will be subject to
withholding. Publishing will pay the reasonable fees of legal counsel incurred
by Executive in connection with the negotiation of this Agreement and the
documents referred to herein.

         11  Term; Termination; Severance.

         (a) The Employment Period commenced as of the Effective Date and shall
terminate on December 31, 2004; provided that (i) the Employment Period shall
terminate prior to such date upon Executive's death or Incapacity; (ii) the
Employment Period may be terminated by Publishing at any time prior to such date
with Cause or without Cause; and (iii) the Employment Period may be terminated
by Executive at any time for Good Reason or other than for Good Reason.

         (b) Upon any Termination, Executive shall be entitled to receive
Executive's Base Salary earned through the Termination Date, prorated on a daily
basis together with all accrued but unpaid vacation time earned by Executive
during the calendar year in which such Termination occurs and any Bonus in
respect of a prior, completed calendar year which is then due and owing and has
not been paid. Except as set forth in Section 11(d), Executive shall not be
entitled to receive Executive's Base Salary or any bonuses or other benefits
from Publishing for any period after the Termination Date.

         (c) In the event Executive's employment is terminated by Publishing
with Cause, upon a resignation by Executive from Company Employment other than
for Good Reason, or upon Executive's death or Incapacity, or upon any
Termination on or after December 31, 2004, Publishing shall have no obligation
to make any severance or other similar payment to or on behalf of Executive.

         (d) In the event that Executive's employment is terminated by
Publishing without Cause or upon a resignation by Executive from Company
Employment for Good Reason (in either case prior to December 31, 2004),
following such Termination and upon execution and delivery by Executive within
30 days after the Termination Date of a general release in favor of the Company
and its Affiliates, in form and substance satisfactory to Publishing, Publishing
shall pay Executive his annual Base Salary (as in effect on the Termination
Date) and provide Executive health insurance benefits through the Severance
Termination Date, and pay to Executive, in the manner described in this
paragraph, a bonus payment calculated in accordance with the next two following
sentences (the "Termination Bonus Amount"). Such bonus payment would be (i) if
Executive is so terminated during calendar year 2001, the amount equal to
$250,000 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days
elapsed in the Employment Period prior to such termination and the denominator
of which is the number of days from commencement of the Employment Period
through December 31, 2001, (ii) if Executive is so terminated during calendar
year 2002, the amount equal to $500,000 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator
of which is the number of days elapsed in 2002 prior to such Termination and the
denominator of which is 365 (but in no event less than $125,000), and (iii) for
each of the calendar years 2003 and 2004, 50% of the amount of bonus, if any,
paid by Publishing to Executive as required by this Agreement in respect of the
immediately

                                      -12-

<PAGE>

prior calendar year. In addition, if Executive's employment by Publishing is
terminated during calendar year 2004 by Publishing without Cause, by Executive
with Good Reason or on account of Executive's death or Incapacity during such
calendar year, and the Company generates consolidated EBITDA for the twelve
month period ended December 31, 2004 of at least $125,000,000, the Termination
Bonus Amount shall also include a $1,000,000 payment, which payment shall be
deemed in lieu of the amount to which Executive would have been entitled
pursuant to Section 10(b)(iii) above had he remained Employed by the Company
through December 31, 2004. Each severance payment hereunder shall be payable in
accordance with Publishing's normal payroll procedures and cycles and shall be
subject to withholding of applicable taxes and governmental charges in
accordance with federal and state law. Such severance payments shall not be
subject to reduction for any income earned by Executive from other sources after
Termination (and, consequently, Executive shall have no duty to mitigate
Publishing's severance obligations). For purposes hereof, "Severance Termination
Date" means the earlier of the date which is one year and six months after the
Termination Date or, so long as a Sale of the Company has not occurred prior to
the Termination Date, December 31, 2004; provided that in no event will the
Severance Termination Date be earlier than the first anniversary of the
Termination Date. The Termination Bonus Amount shall be payable in equal monthly
increments over the period from the date of determination thereof through the
Severance Termination Date, and shall be paid contemporaneously with payment of
Base Salary during such period. After payment of the severance amounts described
in this Section 11(d), Publishing shall have no obligation to make any further
severance or other payment or provide any other benefit to or on behalf of
Executive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that Executive shall
breach any of Executive's obligations under any of Sections 12, 13 and 14 of
this Agreement (except any breach which Executive carries the burden of proving
is solely of a technical nature, is immaterial and was inadvertent), then, in
addition to any other rights that Publishing or the Company may have under this
Agreement or otherwise, Publishing shall be relieved from and shall have no
further obligation to pay Executive any amounts to which Executive would
otherwise be entitled pursuant to this Section 11.

                            D. ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

         12. Confidential Information. Executive acknowledges that by reason of
Executive's duties to and association with Publishing and its Affiliates,
Executive will have access to and will become informed of Confidential
Information (as defined in Section 16 below) which is a competitive asset of
Publishing and/or its Affiliates. Executive agrees to keep in strict confidence
and not, directly or indirectly, make known, disclose, furnish, make available
or use, any Confidential Information, except for use in Executive's regular
authorized duties on behalf of Publishing and its Affiliates. Executive
acknowledges that all documents and other property including or reflecting
Confidential Information furnished to Executive by Publishing or any of its
Affiliates or otherwise acquired or developed by Publishing or any of its
Affiliates or Executive or known by Executive shall at all times be the property
of Publishing and its Affiliates. Executive shall take all necessary and
appropriate steps to safeguard Confidential Information and protect it against
disclosure, misappropriation, misuse, loss and theft. Executive shall deliver to
Publishing at the termination of the Employment Period, or at any other time
Publishing may request, all memoranda, notes, plans, records, reports, computer
tapes, printouts and software and other documents and data (and copies thereof)
relating to the Confidential Information, Work Product (as

                                      -13-

<PAGE>

defined in Section 16 below) or the business of Publishing or any of its
Affiliates which Executive may then possess or have under Executive's control.

         13. Inventions and Patents.

         (a) Executive acknowledges that all Work Product is the exclusive
property of Publishing. Executive hereby assigns all right, title and interest
in and to all Work Product to Publishing. Any copyrightable works that fall
within the Work Product will be deemed "works made for hire" under Section
201(b) of the 1976 Copyright Act, and Publishing shall own all of the rights
comprised in the copyright therein; provided, however, that to the extent such
works may not, by operation of law, constitute "works made for hire," Executive
hereby assigns to Publishing all right, title and interest therein.

         (b) Executive shall promptly and fully disclose all Work Product to
Publishing and shall cooperate and perform all actions reasonably requested by
Publishing (whether during or after the Employment Period) to establish, confirm
and protect Publishing's right, title and interest in such Work Product. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, Executive agrees to assist Publishing,
at Publishing's expense, to secure Publishing's rights in the Work Product in
any and all countries, including the execution of all applications and all other
instruments and documents which Publishing shall deem necessary in order to
apply for and obtain rights in such Work Product and in order to assign and
convey to Publishing the sole and exclusive right, title and interest in and to
such Work Product. If Publishing is unable because of Executive's mental or
physical incapacity or for any other reason (including Executive's refusal to do
so after request therefor is made by Publishing) to secure Executive's signature
to apply for or to pursue any application for any United States or foreign
patents or copyright registrations covering Work Product belonging to or
assigned to Publishing pursuant to Section 13(a) above, then Executive hereby
irrevocably designates and appoints Publishing and its duly authorized officers
and agents as Executive's agent and attorney-in-fact to act for and in
Executive's behalf and stead to execute and file any such applications and to do
all other lawfully permitted acts to further the prosecution and issuance of
patents or copyright registrations thereon with the same legal force and effect
as if executed by Executive. Executive agrees not to apply for or pursue any
application for any United States or foreign patents or copyright registrations
covering any Work Product other than pursuant to this paragraph in circumstances
where such patents or copyright registrations are or have been or are required
to be assigned to Publishing.

         14. Non-Compete, Non-Solicitation.

         (a) In further consideration of the compensation to be paid to
Executive hereunder, the Executive Stock to be made available for Executive's
purchase and the grant of the Options, Executive acknowledges that in the course
of Executive's employment with Publishing and its Affiliates, Executive will
during the Employment Period become familiar with Publishing's and its
Affiliates' (and their predecessors') trade secrets, business plans and business
strategies and with other Confidential Information concerning Publishing and its
Affiliates and that Executive's services have been and shall be of special,
unique and extraordinary value to Publishing and its Affiliates. Therefore,
Executive agrees that, during the Employment Period and for one (1) year
thereafter (such period, the "Noncompete Period"), Executive shall not directly
or indirectly own any interest in,

                                      -14-

<PAGE>

manage, control, participate in (whether as an officer, director, employee,
partner, agent, representative or otherwise), consult with, render services for,
or in any other manner engage in, any of the businesses (i) of International
Data Group, Inc., CMP Media, Inc. (a subsidiary of United News & Media PLC), or
CNET Networks, Inc. (the "Restricted Persons"), (ii) of any successor, assignee,
partner, joint venture or collaboration partner, subsidiary, division or
Affiliate of any of the Restricted Persons, or (iii) in which any of the
Restricted Persons owns an interest or participates, which any of the Restricted
Persons manages or controls (whether as an officer, director, employee, partner,
agent, representative or otherwise), or with which any of the Restricted Persons
consults or to which any of the Restricted Persons otherwise provides management
or financial support. Nothing herein shall prohibit Executive from being an
owner, indirectly through a mutual fund or other similar pooled investment
vehicle, of a passive investment in the stock of a corporation which is publicly
traded, so long as Executive has no other participation in the business of any
such corporation.

         (b) During the Employment Period and for one (1) year thereafter,
Executive shall not directly or indirectly through another Person (i) induce or
attempt to induce any employee of Publishing or any Affiliate to leave the
employ of Publishing or such Affiliate, or in any way interfere with the
relationship between Publishing or any Affiliate and any employee thereof, (ii)
hire any person who was an employee of Publishing or any Affiliate at any time
during the one year period prior to the termination of the Employment Period,
(iii) call on, solicit or service any customer, supplier, licensee, licensor,
franchisee or other business relation of Publishing or any Affiliate in order to
induce or attempt to induce such Person to cease or reduce doing business with
Publishing or such Affiliate, or in any way interfere with the relationship
between any such customer, supplier, licensee or business relation and
Publishing or any Affiliate, including, without limitation, making any negative
statements or communications about Publishing or its Affiliates, or (iv)
directly or indirectly acquire or attempt to acquire any business in the United
States of America to which Publishing or any of its Affiliates has made an
acquisition proposal prior to the Termination Date relating to the possible
acquisition of such business (an "Acquisition Target") by Publishing or any of
its Affiliates, or take any action to induce or attempt to induce any
Acquisition Target to consummate any acquisition, investment or other similar
transaction with any Person other than Publishing or any of its Affiliates.

         15. Enforcement. If, at the time of enforcement of any of Sections 12,
13 and 14 of this Agreement, a court shall hold that the duration, scope, or
area 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 and
directed to revise the restrictions contained herein to cover the maximum
period, scope and area permitted by law. Because Executive's services are unique
and because Executive has access to Confidential Information and Work Product,
the parties hereto agree that money damages would not be an adequate remedy for
any breach of this Agreement. Therefore, in the event a breach or threatened
breach of this Agreement, Publishing or its successors or assigns may, in
addition to other rights and remedies existing in their favor, apply to any
court of competent jurisdiction for specific performance and/or injunctive or
other relief in order to enforce, or prevent any violations of, the provisions
hereof (without posting a bond or other security). In addition, in the event of
an alleged breach or violation by Executive of Section 14, the period set forth
in such Section shall be tolled until such breach or

                                      -15-

<PAGE>

violation has been duly cured. Executive agrees that the restrictions contained
in Section 14 are reasonable and that Executive has received consideration in
exchange therefor.

         16. Definitions.

                  "Affiliate" of a Person means any other person, entity or
investment fund controlling, controlled by or under common control with the
Person and, in the case of a Person which is a partnership, any partner of the
Person.

                  "Board" means the board of directors of the specified Person.

                  "Cause" means (i) the commission by Executive of a felony or a
crime involving moral turpitude, (ii) the commission of any other act or
omission by Executive constituting fraud against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, or the violation of the duty of loyalty to the Company and/or its
Subsidiaries under applicable law, (iii) substantial failure by Executive to act
as reasonably directed by the Board of the Company which failure, if curable, is
not cured within 15 days after notice thereof to Executive, (iv) willful or
reckless misconduct or, if curable, gross negligence by Executive which is not
cured within 15 days after written notice thereof to Executive, with respect to
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (v) any other material breach by
Executive of this Agreement or company policy established by the Board of the
Company, which breach, if curable, is not cured within 15 days after written
notice thereof to Executive.

                  "Certificate of Incorporation" means the Company's certificate
of incorporation in effect at the time as of which any determination is being
made.

                  "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
and any reference to any particular Code section shall be interpreted to include
any revision of or successor to that section regardless of how numbered or
classified.

                  "Confidential Information" means all information of a
confidential or proprietary nature (whether or not specifically labeled or
identified as "confidential"), in any form or medium, that is or was disclosed
to, or developed or learned by, Executive in connection with Executive's
relationship with the Company or any of its Affiliates prior to the date hereof
or during the Employment Period and that relates to the business, products,
services, financing, research or development of the Company or any of its
Affiliates or their respective suppliers, distributors or customers.
Confidential Information includes, but is not limited to, the following: (i)
internal business information (including information relating to strategic and
staffing plans and practices, business, training, marketing, promotional and
sales plans and practices, cost, rate and pricing structures, accounting and
business methods); (ii) identities of, individual requirements of, specific
contractual arrangements with, and information about, any of the Company's or
any of its Affiliates' suppliers, distributors and customers and their
confidential information; (iii) trade secrets, know-how, compilations of data
and analyses, techniques, systems, formulae, research, records, reports,
manuals, documentation, models, data and data bases relating thereto; (iv)
inventions, innovations, improvements, developments, methods, designs, analyses,
drawings, reports and all similar or related information (whether or not
patentable); and (v) Acquisition Targets and potential acquisition candidates.
Confidential Information shall not include information that Executive can
demonstrate:

                                      -16-

<PAGE>

(a) is or becomes publicly known through no wrongful act or breach of obligation
of confidentiality; (b) was rightfully received by Executive from a third party
(other than ZD, Inc. or any of its successors or Affiliates) without a breach of
any obligation of confidentiality by such third party; (c) was known to
Executive prior to his employment with Publishing and its Affiliates, or (d) is
required to be disclosed pursuant to any applicable law or court order;
provided, however, that Executive provides Publishing with prior written notice
of the requirement for disclosure that details the Confidential Information to
be disclosed and cooperates with Publishing to preserve the confidentiality of
such information to the extent possible.

                  "Common Stock" means the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par
value per share.

                  "EBITDA" for any year means the consolidated net income of the
Company and its Subsidiaries for such year plus, to the extent deducted in
determining such net income, interest expense, provisions for taxes,
depreciation and amortization, calculated before extraordinary gains and losses,
treating as an expense all bonuses contemplated hereby (other than the bonus
payable pursuant to Section 10(b)(iii) above) or under similar arrangements
(whether paid in cash or otherwise payable) with other employees of the Company
and its Subsidiaries, and without reduction for any charge in respect of the
Option, and calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles and determined from the Company's audited annual financial statements
for such year.

                  "Executive Stock" means, collectively, the Option Shares
(including any Unexercised Option Shares) and any other Stock or equity
securities hereafter acquired or acquirable by Executive. Such Stock shall
continue to be Executive Stock in the hands of any holder (except for the
Company, the Investors and transferees in a Public Sale consummated in
accordance with this Agreement and the Investor Rights Agreement), and except as
otherwise provided herein, each such other holder of Executive Stock shall
succeed to all rights and obligations attributable to Executive as a holder of
Executive Stock hereunder. Executive Stock shall include both vested and
unvested Executive Stock and shall include interests in the Company issued with
respect to Executive Stock including, without limitation, by way of any
recapitalization.

                  "Exercise Price" means with respect to an Option Share, the
amount payable by Executive to the Company in connection with the exercise of an
Option to purchase such Option Share.

                  "Fair Market Value" shall mean:

                  (a) with respect to each share of Executive Stock which is
listed on any stock exchange or quoted in the NASDAQ System or the
over-the-counter market, the average of the closing prices of the sale of any
such share on all stock exchanges on which such security may at the time be
listed, or, if there have been no sales on any such exchange on any day, the
average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices on all such exchanges at the
end of such day, or, if on any day such security is not so listed, the average
of the representative bid and asked prices quoted in the NASDAQ System as of
4:00 P.M., New York time, or, if on any day such security is not quoted in the
NASDAQ System, the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices on such
day in the domestic over-the-counter market as reported by the National
Quotation Bureau Incorporated, or any

                                      -17-

<PAGE>

similar successor organization, in each such case averaged over a period of 21
days consisting of the day as of which the Fair Market Value is being determined
and the 20 consecutive business days prior to such day; and

                  (b) with respect to each share of Executive Stock which is
not, as of the date of determination, listed on any stock exchange or quoted in
the NASDAQ System or the over-the-counter market, the Fair Market Value thereof
shall be the amount which each such share of Executive Stock would receive upon
a liquidating distribution, in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation,
of the proceeds of a sale of the Company and its Subsidiaries as a going concern
at market value as determined in good faith mutually by the Board of the Company
and Executive and in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and
determined as of the Termination Date; provided that if the parties cannot agree
on Fair Market Value within 30 days after the delivery of the earlier of the
Purchase Notice or the Supplemental Purchase Notice, the Fair Market Value will
be decided by a mutually acceptable independent investment bank and if the
parties are unable to agree on such an investment bank, one shall be chosen by
lot from four nationally recognized investment banks, two of which shall be
designated by the Company and two of which shall be designated by Executive. The
determination of the investment bank pursuant hereto will be final and binding
and the fees and expenses of such investment bank shall be shared equally by the
Company and Executive. Any determination of Fair Market Value of any Share of
Executive Stock shall take into account, in the event of any resignation by
Executive other than for Good Reason, any diminution in the value of the Company
as a result of the loss of Executive's services to the Company and its
Affiliates.

                  "Good Reason" means the occurrence, without Executive's
consent, of any of the following: (a) unless corrected within 15 days after
written notice by Executive to the Board of the Company of objection thereto,
the assignment to Executive of any significant duties materially inconsistent
with Executive's status as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of
the Company (and its controlled Affiliates other than foreign entities where
prohibited by applicable law and except to the extent Executive has voted as a
director or otherwise approved the election of another person to any such
position) or a diminution of Executive's title(s), or a substantial adverse
alteration in the nature or status of Executive's responsibilities; (b) a
reduction in Executive's annual Base Salary as contemplated hereby, except for
across-the-board salary reductions similarly affecting all senior executives of
Publishing if approved by majority vote of the Board of the Company including
the affirmative vote of Executive in his capacity as a member of the Board of
the Company; or (c) the Board of the Company requires Executive to relocate from
the New York metropolitan area.

                  "Incapacity" means the disability of Executive caused by any
physical or mental injury, illness or incapacity as a result of which Executive
is unable to effectively perform the essential functions of Executive's duties
as determined by the Board of the Company in good faith, for a period of 90
consecutive days or a period of 120 days during any 180-day period.

                  "Independent Third Party" means any Person who, immediately
prior to the contemplated transaction, does not own in excess of 5% of the
Company' Common Stock on a fully diluted basis (a "5% Owner"), who is not
controlling, controlled by or under common control with

                                      -18-

<PAGE>

any such 5% Owner and who is not the spouse or descendent (by birth or adoption)
of any such 5% Owner or a trust for the benefit of such 5% Owner and/or such
other Persons.

                  "Investors" has the meaning given such term in the Investor
Rights Agreement.

                  "Investor Rights Agreement" means that certain Investor Rights
Agreement, dated as of April 5, 2000 by and among the Company and the Company's
stockholders, as such agreement may be amended from time to time in accordance
with its terms.

                  "Option Shares" shall mean (a) all shares of capital stock of
the Company issued or issuable upon the exercise of an Option and (b) all shares
of capital stock of the Company issued with respect to the capital stock
referred to in clause (a) above by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in
connection with any conversion, merger, consolidation or recapitalization or
other reorganization affecting such capital stock. Option Shares shall continue
to be Option Shares in the hands of any holder other then Executive (except for
the Company, the Investors and transferees in a Public Sale consummated in
accordance with this Agreement and the Investor Rights Agreement), and each such
transferee thereof shall succeed to the rights and obligations of a holder of
Option Shares hereunder.

                  "Original Cost" of any share of Executive Stock means the
price paid by Executive for such share of Executive Stock.

                  "Permitted Transferee" means any permitted transferee of Stock
pursuant to a transfer in accordance with Section 2D of the Investor Rights
Agreement.

                  "Person" means an individual or a corporation, partnership,
limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, association or
other entity.

                  "Prior Equity Financings" means that series of equity
financings that were undertaken by the Company and WS Fund III between May 2001
and March 2002 pursuant to which WS Fund III purchased an aggregate of
98,285.567 shares of Series B Preferred and 5,172.925 shares of Series C
Preferred for an aggregate purchase price of $103,458,491.00.

                  "Public Sale" means any sale of Stockholder Shares to the
public pursuant to an offering registered under the Securities Act or to the
public through a broker, dealer or market maker pursuant to the provisions of
Rule 144 adopted under the Securities Act.

                  "Sale of the Company" means the sale of the Company to an
Independent Third Party or group of Independent Third Parties pursuant to which
such party or parties acquire (i) ownership or voting rights to capital stock of
the Company possessing the voting power to elect a majority of the Board of the
Company (whether by merger, consolidation or sale or transfer of the Company's
capital stock) or (ii) all or substantially all of the assets of the Company
determined on a consolidated basis.

                  "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
from time to time.

                                      -19-

<PAGE>

                  "Series A Preferred" means the Company's Series A Preferred
Stock, $.01 par value per share.

                  "Series B Preferred" means the Company's Series B Preferred
Stock, $.01 par value per share.

                  "Series C Preferred" means the Company's Series C Preferred
Stock, $.01 par value per share.

                  "Series D Preferred" means the Company's Series D Preferred
Stock, $.01 par value per share.

                  "Stockholder Shares" has the meaning given such term in the
Investor Rights Agreement.

                  "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, any
corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association or business
entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of
shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency)
to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the
time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more
of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a
limited liability company, partnership, association or other business entity
(other than a corporation), a majority of partnership or other similar ownership
interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by
any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof.
For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to have a majority
ownership interest in a limited liability company, partnership, association or
other business entity (other than a corporation) if such Person or Persons shall
be allocated a majority of limited liability company, partnership, association
or other business entity gains or losses or shall be or control any managing
director or general partner of such limited liability company, partnership,
association or other business entity. For purposes hereof, references to a
"Subsidiary" of the Company shall be given effect only at such times that the
Company has one or more Subsidiaries, and, unless otherwise indicated, the term
"Subsidiary" refers to a Subsidiary of the Company.

be Employed by the Company, for any reason, whether on account of termination by
Publishing, resignation by Executive, Executive's death or Incapacity or
otherwise.

                  "Termination Date" means the date on which Termination occurs.

                  "Transfer" has the meaning given such term in the Investor
Rights Agreement.

                  "Work Product" means all inventions, innovations,
improvements, developments, methods, processes, designs, analyses, drawings,
reports and all similar or related information (whether or not patentable or
reduced to practice or comprising Confidential Information) and any
copyrightable work, trade mark, trade secret or other intellectual property
rights (whether or not comprising Confidential Information) and any other form
of Confidential Information, any of which

                                      -20-

<PAGE>

relate to Publishing's or any of its Affiliates' actual or anticipated business,
research and development or existing or future products or services and which
were or are conceived, reduced to practice, contributed to, developed, made or
acquired by Executive (whether alone or jointly with others) while employed
(both before and after the date hereof) by Publishing (or its successors or
assigns) and its Affiliates.

                  "Termination" means such time as of which Executive ceases to

                  "WS" has the meaning given such term in the Investor Rights
Agreement.

                  " WS Fund III" means, collectively, Willis Stein & Partners
III, L.P., Willis Stein & Partners Dutch III-A, L.P., Willis Stein & Partners
Dutch III-B, L.P. and Willis Stein & Partners III-C, L.P.

         17. Notices. Any notice provided for in this Agreement must be in
writing and must be either personally delivered, mailed by first class mail
(postage prepaid and return receipt requested) or sent by reputable overnight
courier service (charges prepaid) to the recipients at the address indicated
below:

         If to Executive:            Robert F. Callahan
                                     1 Apawamis Road
                                     Rye, NY 10580

         If to the Company:          Ziff Davis Holdings, Inc.
                                     28 E. 28th Street
                                     New York, NY 10016
                                     Attention: Chief Executive Officer

         with a copy to:             Ziff Davis Holdings, Inc.
                                     28 E. 28th Street
                                     New York, NY 10016
                                     Attention: General Counsel

         and                         Willis, Stein & Partners Management III,
                                     L.L.C.

                                     One North Wacker, Suite 4800
                                     Chicago, IL 60606
                                     Attn:    Avy H. Stein
                                              Daniel H. Blumenthal

         and                         Kirkland & Ellis
                                     200 East Randolph Drive
                                     Chicago, IL 60601
                                     Attn:    John A. Weissenbach
                                              David A. Breach

                                      -21-

<PAGE>

         If to WS or the Investors:         Willis, Stein & Partners Management
                                            III, L.L.C.
                                            One North Wacker, Suite 4800
                                            Chicago, IL 60606
                                            Attn:    Avy H. Stein
                                                     Daniel H. Blumenthal

         with a copy to                     Kirkland & Ellis
                                            200 East Randolph Drive
                                            Chicago, IL 60601
                                            Attn:    John A. Weissenbach
                                                     David A. Breach

or such other address or to the attention of such other person as the recipient
party shall have specified by prior written notice to the sending party. Any
notice under this Agreement shall be deemed to have been given five days after
deposit in the U.S. mail, if mailed, or otherwise when so delivered or sent
otherwise.

         18. General Provisions.

         (a) Transfers in Violation of Agreement. Any Transfer or attempted
Transfer of any Stock or the Option in violation of any provision of this
Agreement shall be void, and the Company shall not record such Transfer on its
books or treat any purported transferee of such Stock or such Option as the
owner of such Stock or such Option for any purpose.

         (b) 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 any applicable law or rule in any
jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect
any other provision or 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.

         (c) Complete Agreement. This Agreement, those documents expressly
referred to herein and other documents of even date herewith embody the complete
agreement and understanding among the parties and supersede and preempt any
prior understandings, agreements or

         representations by or among the parties, written or oral, which may
have related to the subject matter hereof in any way (including, without
limitation, the Prior Agreement, which is hereby superseded in its entirety and
terminated).

         (d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in separate
counterparts, each of which is deemed to be an original and all of which taken
together constitute one and the same agreement.

         (e) Successors and Assigns. Except as otherwise provided herein, this
Agreement shall bind and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by
Executive, the Company, Publishing the Investors and their respective successors
and assigns; provided that the rights and obligations of

                                      -22-

<PAGE>

Executive under this Agreement shall not be assignable except in connection with
a permitted transfer of Stock hereunder.

         (f) Governing Law. The corporate law of the State of Delaware will
govern all issues concerning the relative rights of the Company and its
stockholders. All other issues concerning this Agreement shall be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without
giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether
of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the
application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

         (g) Remedies. Each of the parties to this Agreement shall be entitled
to enforce its rights under this Agreement specifically, to recover damages and
costs (including reasonable attorney's fees) caused by any breach of any
provision of this Agreement and to exercise all other rights existing in its
favor. The parties hereto agree and acknowledge that money damages would not be
an adequate remedy for any breach of the provisions of this Agreement and that
any party may in its sole discretion apply to any court of law or equity of
competent jurisdiction (without posting any bond or deposit) for specific
performance and/or other injunctive relief in order to enforce or prevent any
violations of the provisions of this Agreement.

         (h) Survival. The provisions set forth in Section 4, Section 7 and
Sections 12 through 18 shall survive and continue in full force and effect in
accordance with their terms notwithstanding any termination of the Employment
Period.

         (i) Amendment and Waiver. The provisions of this Agreement may be
amended and waived only with the prior written consent of the Company,
Publishing, Executive and WS Fund III.

         (j) Third-Party Beneficiaries. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree
that the Investors are third party beneficiaries of this Agreement. This
Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Investors and
their respective successors and assigns, subject to amendment or waiver as
provided in subparagraph (i) foregoing.

                                     * * * *

                                      -23-

<PAGE>

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

                          ZIFF DAVIS HOLDINGS, INC.

                          By:  /s/ Carolyn Schurr-Levin
                               ----------------------------------

                          Its: Vice President and General Counsel
                               ----------------------------------

                          ZIFF DAVIS PUBLISHING, INC.

                          By:  /s/ Carolyn Schurr-Levin
                               ----------------------------------

                          Its: Vice President and General Counsel
                               ----------------------------------

                          EXECUTIVE:

                          /s/ Robert F. Callahan
                          ---------------------------------------
                          Robert F. Callahan

<PAGE>

                     Consent to Amendment of Prior Agreement

WS Fund III hereby consents to the amendment and restatement of that Executive
Agreement by and between Ziff Davis Holdings Inc., Ziff Davis Publishing Inc.
and Robert F. Callahan dated October 1, 2001. This signature is solely for the
purpose of consenting to such amendment and shall not have any other
significance or effect.

                          WILLIS STEIN & PARTNERS III, L.P.
                          WILLIS STEIN & PARTNERS DUTCH III-A, L.P.
                          WILLIS STEIN & PARTNERS DUTCH III-B, L.P.
                          WILLIS STEIN & PARTNERS III-C, L.P.

                          By:    Willis Stein & Partners Management III, L.P.
                          Its:   General Partner

                          By:    Willis Stein & Partners Management III, L.L.C.
                          Its:   General Partner

                          By:    /s/ Avy H. Stein
                                 -----------------------------------------------
                          Its:   Member

                                      -2-

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A
                                    ---------

                            Form of Option Agreement
                            ------------------------

See attached.

                                      A-1

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