The much-speculated on exodus of Dow Jones vets from the post-News Corp. outfit is underway. VP Paul Ingrassia is retiring. Although he told Reuters in an interview that his depature was unrelated to Rupert Murdoch‘s purchase, it might have something to do with it anyway:

“I will be leaving probably after the first of the year,” Ingrassia said in a brief phone interview. “There just didn’t seem to be an appropriate place for me in the company.” He also said he did not see “any role that really excited me” at Dow Jones.

Ingrassia, a Wall Street Journal veteran who formerly headed up Dow Jones Newswires, has been serving as Dow Jones’ VP for News Strategy since 2006.

— Neal Ungerleider