Founder of COS passes away suddenly in Sydney.

 

Dominique (Dom) Lyone, founder and chairman of Complete Office Supplies (pictured)), has died after suffering a suspected stroke. 

 

COS is Australia’s largest family-owned and operated office and education supplies business with annual revenue of more than $300 million, more than 600 employees and warehouses in every state.

 

In 2021, Lyone’s daughters Belinda and Amie Lyone took over day-to-day running of the company as joint-CEOs.

 

Belinda, Amie and Dominique’s wife Mara are directors of the family’s charitable organisation The Lyone Foundation.

 

Born in Egypt in 1954, Lyone migrated to Australia in 1967 with his family in the wake of the Six-Day War.

 

Speaking only Arabic and French in an English speaking country made schooling difficult so he left at the age of 13. He got his first paid job as a telegram boy at the age of 14 and learnt to speak fluent English. 

 

He then began an apprenticeship as a typewriter mechanic which he got by ringing company lists in the telephone directory until he found one that was interested. Having noticed the "nice cars and suits" worn by the sales team he began a year-and-a-half long campaign to convince them to let him try sales. 

 

In 1976, Lyone and a colleague set up their own company - Complete Office Supplies - and began trading in a tiny office in Parramatta.  

 

In recent years, COS has acquired a number of related businesses, the most recent being Tosco Business & Education and Kookaburra Education Resources.

 

Statement from Daniel O’Halloran, commercial director of COS:

 

With a heavy heart, I can confirm that the founder of COS, Dominique (Dom) Lyone passed away peacefully on Friday 25th October surrounded by his family. 

 

As an industry pioneer for more than 44 years, Dom passed the baton of Australia’s largest locally owned and run office products supplier to his daughters Amie and Belinda four years ago. 

 

Strengthening Dom’s vision under second generation leadership, COS has grown to become the Aussie expert helping workers, patients, and students across the country to be healthy, safe, and productive.

 

The COS and Lyone families are understandably deeply saddened by our loss and ask for your support in allowing privacy as we bid our farewells to Dom and celebrate his incredible legacy.