WOIO General Manager Bill Applegate just announced that he is retiring from the station at the end of April.

Applegate has risen the ratings and a number of eyebrows while running WOIO. He signed off on then WOIO anchor Sharon Reed getting naked for a news story about an artist.

The station is in the middle of a lawsuit filed by a former Sales Executive that claims the station encouraged the use of sexual favors and sexually explicit tactics to entice advertising clients and that drug use and alcohol use at advertising-related events was common.

No word if that lawsuit is playing a part in Applegate's announce retirement.

But if not it sure seems to be quite a coincidence.

Applegate's last day at the station is April 25th.

No word yet on a replacement.