Global Crossing Ltd. paid former Chief Executive Bob Annunziata about $15.9 million plus stock options for about one year of work, the company said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Annunziata, who joined Global Crossing in February 1999 from AT&T Corp., received about $11.5 million in salary and bonuses last year.

Global Crossing paid him another $4.4 million when he resigned in March 2000, the filing said.

Annunziata also received 4 million options to purchase the company's common stock at $19.81 a share, which were to vest over three years.

He got another 500,000 options to purchase stock at $24.81 a share, which vested when he joined the company, the filing said. All of his options vested when he resigned in March.

The stock has fallen nearly 37 percent over the past 12 months.

Shares of Hamilton-based Global Crossing traded yesterday afternoon at 34-7/8, up 1/8, on Nasdaq.

Under Annunziata, who is known for turning upstart companies into Wall Street darlings, Global Crossing grew from 150 employees to over 14,000 employees and acquired several companies including Frontier Corp., the No. 5 US long-distance telephone company.

Leo Hindery, who Global Crossing promoted to chief executive in March, was paid a base salary of $500,000 in 1999, plus a bonus of $500,000 for his work as chairman of the company's GlobalCenter subsidiary.

Hindery also received options to purchase 500,000 shares of Global Crossing stock at $45 a share and options covering 5.5 percent of GlobalCenter or of a tracking stock for that unit.

The GlobalCenter options have an aggregate exercise price of $110 million and will vest over three years, the filing said.

Hindery's compensation was increased in March to reflect his new position as chief executive of the parent company. His salary increased to $995,000 and he received 2 million additional options to purchase Global Crossing stock at $54.375 a share. Those options will vest over three years.

Gary Winnick, Global Crossing's chairman and founder, received $1.05 million in salary, bonuses and other compensation last year.

Winnick owns about 79.1 million shares, or about 10.6 percent of the company.

That ownership stake includes shares owned by Pacific Capital Group, a company controlled by Winnick.

Global Crossing is building undersea and international fibre-optic communications networks that will serve 27 countries and more than 200 major cities when completed next year.

It sells capacity on those networks to other telecommunications service providers and large corporations.