Feb. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Pacific Retail Group Ltd., a New Zealand-based retailer, named Chris Onslow to take over as chief executive of its unprofitable U.K. PowerHouse unit, replacing Peter Halkett.

Onslow, 45, was appointed PowerHouse sales director in August, 2004, and has since been promoted to retail managing director, Auckland-based Pacific Retail said in a statement to the New Zealand stock exchange today.

Halkett will take up an advisory role for three months and continue as a PowerHouse director, the company said.

PowerHouse Holdings Ltd., the U.K.'s third-largest retailer of electrical goods, is forecasting a loss of 5 million pounds ($9.5 million) before interest, tax and amortization in the six months ending March 31, Pacific Retail said in last month. Pacific Retail bought the business from receivers in September 2003.

To contact the reporter on this story: Tina Morrison in Wellington tmorrison3@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: February 17, 2005 15:00 EST