Pete Wells 100% Confirmed as New Times Critic

Last week rumors swirled that Pete Wells, the Times Dining Section editor, had accepted the gig of the paper of record's full time restaurant critic and that highers ups were already looking for his replacement. Now the Twitterverse explodes with confirmation of the rumors, as an alleged internal Times memo today announced his appointment and his replacement, Susan Edgerley.

Wells joined the paper as Dining Editor in 2006 and took on the role of interim critic for a few months back in 2009. His apparent appointment squashes rumors that the Times was looking for either a woman, an outsider, or someone anonymous. Though on that final note, it should be mentioned that Wells just changed his twitter profile picture from a photo of himself to a photo of oysters and the Times removed his photo from their website. Stay tuned for more as the story develops.

Update: Wells, who is very busy closing the Thanksgiving section, confirms he is indeed taking the critic job. Which, by the way, is a win for New York.
Update No. 2: The Times publishes their official memo.
· @DylanByers [Twitter]
· New Rumors Finger Pete Wells as New Times Critic [~ENY~]