We had heard earlier this year that Bob Essner, 59, was probably going to leave his job as Wyeth ceo long before retirement age. The unconfirmed nugget came up in a furtive conversation after Bernie Poussot, 56, was promoted to chief operating officer in January. And so we weren’t surprised last week when the drugmaker announced that Essner will be retiring on Jan. 1, and Poussot will ascend the throne. To us, the news was ‘hardly shocking.’

This was confirmed today, however, when John “Jake” Mascotte, who chairs Wyeth’s nominating and governance committee, told the WSJ Health Blog that Essner had, in fact, made what he called a “lifestyle choice” to duck out a long time ago. No special date was ever mentioned, but then Essner last month told the board he was ready. There was no indication from Essner, however, that his decision reflected recent pipeline problems.

Meanwhile, the board had already begun scouring candidates, including inside Wyeth. Mascotte acknowledged the board was concerned Poussot was being courted by another drugmaker, but wouldn’t confirm that it was Bristol-Myers Squibb. In any event, Mascotte made a point of saying the board was happy with Essner, despite this year’s pipeline setbacks, and pooh-poohs news reports that Essner was pushed out the door prematurely.

“I’m just stunned that people are reading tea leaves here,” he tells the Heath Blog, “and coming up with these explanations that are really quite detached from reality.”