dIn a move that’s stirred both corporate circles and the internet, Andy Byron, the CEO of Astronomer, has officially resigned following a now-viral incident caught on camera at a Coldplay concert.
The video, which quickly spread across social media, showed Byron cuddling Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s Head of Human Resources, during the concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The clip, taken from the concert’s “couples cam,” captured the two getting cozy — a moment that has since been parodied and widely discussed online.
Astronomer made the resignation public in an official statement on Saturday, emphasizing the company’s stance on leadership accountability and core values.
“Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted,” the company said. “The Board will begin a search for our next Chief Executive as Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO.”
Company’s Emphasis on Values
The company acknowledged the controversy and used the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to professional standards.
“Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,” Astronomer stated.
“Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI. While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not.”
The Viral Moment
The kiss cam footage wasn’t just an innocent moment. It raised eyebrows due to the personal implications:
- Andy Byron is reportedly married to Megan Kerrigan
- Kristin Cabot is married to Andrew Cabot, CEO of Privateer Rum
Following the social media frenzy, both Byron and Cabot were placed on administrative leave, and a formal investigation into the matter was launched by the company’s Board of Directors.
At this time, it’s unclear whether Kristin Cabot will face any disciplinary action or if the investigation has concluded.
What’s Next for Astronomer?
Despite the scandal, Astronomer says its mission and technology remain intact. Known for its strong presence in the data and AI space, the company now faces the dual challenge of rebuilding trust internally and shifting public focus back to its innovation efforts.
The company concludes:
“We’re continuing to do what we do best: helping our customers with their toughest data and AI problems.”
