The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday edition the board has been shaken up, a new chief executive officer is in charge and a senior vice-president whose mission is to improve operational efficiencies has been hired. The Globe's Bertrand Marotte writes the folks at Rona say the pieces are coming together in a top-to-bottom renovation of the home-improvement retailer. Observers will be watching closely for signs of progress when the company unveils first quarter results and holds its annual meeting Tuesday. Newly installed CEO Robert Sawyer, a food-retailing industry veteran, will no doubt provide an update on the work being done. At the end of the month, Alain Brisebois, a former colleague of Mr. Sawyer's from grocery chain Metro Inc., joins management with the key job of wringing more productivity and cost-effectiveness out of the various departments, including purchasing, merchandising, procurement and marketing. Rona's aim is to shrink itself by selling assets and shifting from big-box stores to smaller "proximity" outlets. Still, the hardware chain faces major challenges, notably a still-weak consumer spending climate and growing pressure from U.S. rivals such as Home Depot and Lowe's.