Stuart Machin, chief executive of furniture retailers Bensons for Beds and Harveys Furniture, owned by Steinhoff International Holdings NV, has overhauled management of the U.K. retail home and housewares division just eight weeks after stepping into his role, Retail Gazette reported Oct. 10.

Bensons for Beds Managing Director Alan Williams has been promoted to the newly created role of COO, while Dean Simpson has been named COO of Harveys, according to the report. Simpson's previous role was not given.

Henry Swift, the former interim marketing director for the group, has been appointed to the newly created role of chief customer officer, and Chily Fachler has been appointed chief information officer, Retail Gazette reported.

Mark Jackson has been named as finance director for both brands, while Chris Brougham has been appointed project manager.

The report said that some executives retained their positions in the shakeout. These include head of people, talent and development Debbie Jones, and supply chain and logistics director Kalwant Singh.

David O'Connor remains commercial director for Harveys and Mark Cort remains commercial director for Bensons for Beds, the report said.

Head of strategic programs Jamie Danby now reports directly to Machin.

Machin also pledged to chair a leadership program to improve gender diversity, the report said.