Unite has reshuffled its board as part of a wider reorganisation of the company. The listed UK student accommodation group said the changes relate mainly to planned 'headcount reduction' in senior management roles and central support functions.

As part of these changes John Tonkiss, chief operating officer, is to leave the company at end-December 2011 following ten years of service with the company.

In addition Unite announced two new internal appointments to the board, which will take effect from 1 January 2012. Richard Simpson will join the board and take on the role of managing director of the property division. Richard Smith will join the board and become managing director of the operations division.

Simpson has held the role of development director at Unite for the past three years.

Smith joined UNITE in 2010 as deputy chief financial officer.