Today Simon & Schuster named Paul Crichton vice president, director of publicity for the  Children’s Publishing Division.

Crichton joined the division in 2006, handling campaigns for authors ranging from Sarah Ferguson (Duchess of York) to Lynne Cheney. In a memo about the promotion, Children’s Publishing Division publisher Jon Anderson praised Crichton and his team for 179 New York Times bestsellers, seven New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Books, four National Book Award nominees, and a Newbery Medal winner.

Anderson explained: “the week Paul arrived at Simon & Schuster the Children’s Division had no titles on The New York Times bestseller list, a drought that lasted three months until Scott Westerfeld’s Specials landed on the Paperback list. Since then, there has been only one week that we have not been represented (I’m guessing Paul was on vacation).  Coincidence?  I think not.”