HAMILTON, Bermuda–XL Capital Ltd. awarded CEO Michael S. McGavick total compensation of $6.2 million last year, 16.2% less than the previous year, the Bermuda-based insurer said in a regulatory filing.

Mr. McGavick received a higher salary in 2009 vs. 2008, $1 million vs. $666,667, XL reported in a proxy statement filed Wednesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

However, he received a higher bonus of $3.5 million in 2008 vs. $3 million in 2009; $1.2 million in options in 2008 vs. $889,831 in 2009; and $1.2 million in stock in 2008 but none in 2009.

He also received $851,389 in “all other compensation” in 2008 vs. $389,273 in 2009. The difference largely reflects $480,115 in relocation assistance Mr. McGavick received in moving from Seattle, where he was president and CEO of SAFECO Corp., to Bermuda to take the XL post in 2008.

In 2009, Mr. McGavick received $933,333 in “nonequity incentive plan compensation,” which was based on performance measures. No such award was made in 2008.