F.B.I. Casts Wide Net for Fugitive Ex-Chief of Comverse

The hunt for Jacob Alexander, known as Kobi, was stepped up yesterday after the Federal Bureau of Investigation declared him a fugitive and said agents were seeking his arrest.

Mr. Alexander, the former chief executive of the communications software company Comverse, was charged, along with two other former Comverse executives, last week in connection with their suspected involvement in a stock options scheme that, prosecutors said, used a “secret slush fund” to dole out options to favored employees.

Mr. Alexander, who never showed up at his arraignment, transferred $57 million to Israel, fueling speculation he may have fled there. The F.B.I. also said yesterday that a “red notice’’ was issued for Mr. Alexander with the international police organization Interpol. Such notices alert countries that an arrest warrant has been issued.