Former American Express CEO lists home in tony NYC co-op for $25M

The home, located in the same building where the cosmetics billionaire William Lauder bought a place in June for $24.95 million, is owned by Coca Cola director and former American Express CEO James Robinson and his wife Linda Robinson, most recently the Vice Chair at investment bank BlackRock Inc.

Keeping things in the big-banker family, they bought the residence in 2000 from Blue Harbour Group CEO Clifton Robbins in an off-market deal for $17.7 million.

Comprised of 16 rooms, the 6,500-square-foot space has six ensuite bedrooms, seven full bathrooms and two half baths. Features include a private elevator, a 40-foot gallery with hand-stenciled wood floors and three woodburning fireplaces, according to the listing. It also has no fewer than 42 windows providing 100 feet of frontage overlooking Central Park.

There’s an east wing for entertaining, bedrooms on the southern end and staff quarters with a windowed laundry room.

Constructed around 1929, 778 Park Ave. is one of several notable New York buildings designed by the pioneering architect Rosario Candela, which also include neighboring 770 Park Ave., along with 1040 Fifth Ave. and 1 Sutton Place South.

Over the years, other notable residents have included the designer Vera Wang, the late socialite Brooke Astor and former ABC News president Roone Arledge.

James Robinson was CEO of AmEx from 1970 to 1993 before leaving to cofound the venture capital firm RRE Ventures. He’s been on the board at Coca Cola since 1975. Linda Robinson co-founded the corporate and financial consulting firm Robinson Lerer & Montgomery in 1986, and left for BlackRock in 2011 after serving on its board since 2004.

Brokers Linda Reiner and Lisa Tarnopol Deslauriers of Coldwell Banker Warburg declined to comment on the property. Sotheby’s International Realty associate broker Nikki Field, who shares the listing, couldn’t be reached as of press time.