Longtime children's publishing executive and digital entrepreneur Rick Richter has joined the staff of Zachary Shuster Harmsworth Literary and Entertainment Agency as a literary agent based in its Boston offices.

The move is meant to strengthen ZSH’s efforts to represent works in the new adult, young adult, middle grade and picture book categories. The Zachary Shuster Harmsworth Agency has offices in Boston and New York City.

Richter said he is “honored and extremely excited to join this accomplished firm and to help authors and illustrators find long term success in our rapidly changing publishing marketplace.” Richter is a former president of S&S Children’s Publishing, a cofounder of the children’s publishing house Candlewick Press, and he launched Ruckus Media, a children’s digital publishing venture, in 2010 before selling it to KiwiTech in 2013.

“Rick Richter will bring tremendous acumen and exciting new energy to our firm's rapidly growing list of authors writing for children and young adults,” said Lane Zachary. “Rick is a beloved industry veteran who has helped launch numerous major world class publishing franchises. We are thrilled to have him on our team.”