Management Team

Management Team

The management team works diligently to implement the RONA’s growth strategies, according to four growth vectors:

1. Customer growth
2. Construction of new stores
3. Development of the affiliated dealer network
4. Acquisitions

Page 1/2
Robert Dutton, President and CEO
Claude Bernier, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Customer Innovations
Dominique Boies, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Normand Dumont, Executive Vice President, Merchandising
Paul Jovian, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain
Christian Proulx, Senior Vice President, People and Culture
Luc Rodier, Executive Vice President, Retail
Michael Storfer, Vice President, Commercial and Professional Market

Robert Dutton, President and CEO

Robert Dutton has been at the helm of RONA inc. as President and Chief Executive Officer since 1992. From 1990 to 1992, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and was in charge of all of Corporation operations.

Since the beginning of his term as President, Robert Dutton has made a number of operational and structural changes. Under his leadership, RONA has enjoyed a remarkably steady streak of sustained growth and to become the leading Canadian retailer and distributor of hardware, home renovation and gardening products. One of his changes has been to introduce a whole new concept in big-box home renovation stores: RONA Home & Garden and RONA Le Régional (a mid-size big-box for the suburbs).

Dutton has strengthened RONA’s distribution network through massive investments in leading-edge information technology and by building one of the largest distribution centres in the country on Montreal’s South Shore and a second one in Calgary. He has also played a pivotal role in helping to consolidate the Canadian hardware and home-improvement industry by masterminding a series of major acquisitions, including Cashway in 2000, Revy and Lansing in 2001, Réno-Dépôt in 2003, Totem in 2005, Chester Dawe, Matériaux Coupal and Curtis Lumber in 2006, Noble Trade and Dick’s Lumber in 2007, Best-Mar in 2008 and, Pierceys and TruServ Canada in 2010. Last, but not least, Dutton brought RONA to the Toronto Stock Exchange in 2002 by orchestrating RONA’s initial public offering and, in 2006, issued the first RONA debentures on the market.

From 1977 to 1990, Robert Dutton held a number of increasingly senior positions at RONA, including Vice President of Development, with responsibility for all services related to marketing, retail operations, sales and corporate development.

Robert Dutton received his bachelor’s of business administration in marketing and finance from the École des Hautes Études Commerciales (Montreal) in 1977.

He is a member of the board of directors of several organizations, including RONA, Quebecor, the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation and Fondation de l’Art Thérapeutique et l’Art Brut du Québec. In 1993, he became a Fellow of the World Academy of Productivity Science, and in 1994 received the Canadian Hardware Industry’s Outstanding Achievement Award. In 2001, Robert Dutton received the “McGill University Management Achievement Award” as well as the “Opal Award” from the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, both honouring his professional accomplishments and contributions to the community. In October 2005 he was awarded the CIRAS Henry Singer Award by the University of Alberta School of Business in recognition for his exemplary leadership in retail commerce.

Robert Dutton is also involved in many social causes and community organizations that help youth and people suffering from mental illness. On numerous occasions, he has been invited as a keynote speaker to discuss Ethics in Management, a subject very close to his heart.

Claude Bernier, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Customer Innovations

Claude Bernier has served as Executive Vice President of marketing and customer innovations for all RONA divisions and banners – RONA, TOTEM and Réno-Dépôt – since November 2008. He is also responsible for operations management of the TOTEM banner in Alberta.

Claude Bernier joined RONA in March 1988 as marketing director of Ro-Na Dismat. In August 1990 he was named national vice president of marketing. From 1990 to 2000, he was in charge of the marketing and development of the affiliate network. At the same time, he participated in the expansion of big-box concepts in Quebec and directed the evolution of the concept and management of regional stores. From 2000 to 2004, while supervising the marketing division, he took an active part in the integration of the company’s newly acquired stores. In 2001, Bernier became executive vice president of traditional and specialized stores, taking on responsibility for the operations of traditional corporate stores as well as the recruitment and management of affiliate dealer-owners across Canada.

After completing his studies, Claude Bernier began his career as a sales representative at Procter & Gamble. A few months later he joined Sports Experts, where he served for nearly four years, first as assistant advertising manager and then advertising manager. After leaving Sports Experts, Bernier devoted the next eight years to honing his skills at leading advertising agencies, including Planicom PNMD, BCP Advertising and Groupe Morrow. By the time he left Groupe Morrow, he was vice president in charge of all major accounts.

Claude Bernier was born in 1953. He studied at the École des Hautes études commerciales in Montreal, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a major in marketing in 1976.

Dominique Boies, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Dominique Boies joined RONA in September 2011 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. He is responsible for the Corporation’s financial orientation and oversees investor relations, accounting, financing, treasury and legal affairs.

Prior to RONA, Dominique held, during five years, various positions at the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, including Senior Vice President Investments, Corporate Debt and Investment Funds groups within the Private Equity team. He was also accountable for the strategic management of the private equity portfolio. Mr. Boies also worked for 11 years at Royal Bank of Canada, where he held several high-ranking positions, including Vice President of Strategic Planning and General Manager within the Capital Markets group.

Mr. Dominique Boies holds a Master degree in Science (specializing in finance) from the Université du Québec à Montréal, which in 2002 awarded him a Prix Performance, one of five awarded each year by École des sciences de la gestion to alumnis who have distinguished themselves in their field.

Mr. Boies serves on the Board of Directors of Fondation de cancérologie Charles-Bruneau.

Normand Dumont, Executive Vice President, Merchandising

Normand Dumont has been RONA Executive Vice President of merchandising since 2004, with responsibility for all purchasing and merchandising for the entire network.

Normand came to RONA in 1989 and held a number of progressively senior management positions until his nomination as Vice President of sales and merchandising in 2000.

Before RONA, Normand Dumont held a variety of management positions in the commercial and industrial construction sector. He moved into retail sales as the manager of a garden centre for a two-year period.

Normand was born in 1954. He graduated from the Université de Laval in 1979 with a bachelor’s of science in bio-agronomics.

Page 1/2