On 1 September 2021, Amie and Belinda Lyone took over as co-CEOs of leading Australian independent dealer COS.
For more details on COS, click on the following links:
2022
2021
OPI Talk podcast: Generation change at COS
Big independent dealer merger in Australia
Background information
2022: 2021 marked the transition of sisters Amie and Belinda Lyone into the role of co-CEOs of Australia’s largest family-owned B2B workplace supplies company COS.
The pair succeeded their father, Dominique Lyone, who moved into the position of Chairman after founding the firm 45 years ago. Since then, COS has been on an incredible growth path for the past decade, which has included several acquisitions such as the purchase of Lyreco Australia in 2018 and the country’s second-largest independent dealer Quick Corporate Australia which COS bought last year.
The sisters both took jobs outside of the business first at the start of their careers, but have amassed decades of experience at COS since. Their complementary skills set them up perfectly to lead the dealership into the future. This year, the duo has strengthened its position in the education vertical with the purchase of JI Office & Education, with ambitious plans to grow further both organically and via acquisitions.
“We believe our purpose has never been more relevant – keeping Aussie workers healthy, safe and productive,” say Belinda and Amie, especially following the coronavirus crisis.
“COVID represented a challenging time in the B2B space as working from home became the norm. However, COS identified an opportunity to support the essential workers of Australia during the pandemic and has focused on helping its customers return to the office through pivoting our product ranges across platforms.”
As a family-owned business, COS is investing in Australia for the long term. Leading the path to net zero, the dealer has the largest solar farm in the industry and has begun an electric van trial in its Canberra fleet.
The family is also passionate about giving back with a transparent philanthropic commitment through the Lyone Foundation, which supports Australian charities focused on human welfare. In 2023, it will celebrate ten years, with over A$13 million ($8.4 million) donated from COS.
2021: This year marked a generational change at COS with Amie and Belinda Lyone taking over as co-CEOs of the reseller from their father – and company founder – Dominique, who has now taken on the role of Chairman.
The sisters’ skillsets complement each other nicely for the running of the dealership, and they have 35 years’ worth of experience in the business between them. Belinda is focusing on strategy, sourcing and sales, while Amie is looking after the personnel, service levels and logistics.
One of their first tasks was to oversee the integration of Quick Corporate Australia, the country’s second-largest independent dealer that COS agreed to acquire in August 2021. This transaction strengthened COS’ position in the west of Australia and came shortly after it had opened a new warehouse in Perth.
