Qwest chief executive Ed Mueller garnered an 11 percent increase in pay in 2010, the same year the Denver-based company shed nearly 1,800 jobs.
Mueller, who negotiated the pending sale of Qwest to Monroe, La.-based CenturyLink, was paid nearly $13.5 million, up from $12.1 million in 2009, according to a regulatory filing Thursday.
His earnings included base salary of $1.2 million, a cash bonus of $4 million, stock awards valued at $7.6 million, the use of the corporate aircraft valued at nearly $300,000 and other compensation.
Qwest said in the filing that Mueller’s accomplishments in 2010 included leading “a $6 billion increase in our market capitalization” and “exceeding or meeting certain budgeted financial targets.”
Qwest cut 6 percent of its workforce in 2010, ending the year with 28,343 employees. The company’s workforce dropped 8.5 percent in 2009 and 10 percent in 2008.
Qwest chief operating officer Teresa Taylor’s compensation nearly doubled last year, from $5.6 million to $10.7 million. Taylor’s pay included base salary of $660,000, a cash bonus of nearly $1.6 million, stock awards valued at $2.4 million, early severance pay of $5 million and other compensation.
Compensation for other top Qwest executives include $5 million for chief administrative officer Rich Baer, $4.7 million for chief financial officer Joe Euteneuer and $3.1 million for executive vice president Dan Yost.
None of the five executives will join CenturyLink, though Mueller will serve on the company’s board. The merger is expected to close Friday.
Andy Vuong: 303-954-1209, avuong@denverpost.com or
Qwest’s Colorado operations
•Nearly 1.5 million access lines and 7,300 employees statewide
•There are 31 sites in Colorado with 20 or more Qwest employees.
•16 sites are owned and 15 are leased.
•These sites represent approximately 4.6 million square feet.
•The types of buildings included are: administrative, central office (teleco equipment), cyber/hosting, data-processing center, garage and warehouse.
Where they work
The majority of Qwest’s employees in Colorado are located in the following buildings:
•1801 California St. in Denver
•700 W. Mineral Ave. in Littleton
•930 15th St./931 14th St. (the 93 0/931 complex) in Denver
•5325 Zuni St. in Denver
Source: Qwest
