Andy Byron, the now-former CEO of tech company Astronomer, has officially stepped down following a scandalous moment caught on camera at a Coldplay concert—one that sent shockwaves through both the company and social media.
In a video that quickly went viral, Byron was seen with his arms around the company's Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot, during the concert. The couple was projected on the venue's kiss cam, prompting Coldplay frontman Chris Martin to joke, 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy.' Byron, who is married with children, appeared startled and ducked to avoid further attention. The moment, captured by a concertgoer, set off a storm of scrutiny.
Resignation Accepted – But Only One Executive Steps Down
On Saturday, Astronomer released a formal statement confirming Byron's resignation:
'Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted. 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.'
While Byron's resignation was swift, Kristin Cabot remains in her position as Chief People Officer, raising eyebrows both inside and outside the company. Astronomer has not provided any updates on whether Cabot is under review or subject to the same standards of conduct as its former CEO.
Scandal Overshadows Company's Recent Success
Until recently, Astronomer was known for its pioneering work in the DataOps space, helping data teams manage everything from modern analytics to production AI systems. The company had just announced a $93 million investment round in May, led by Bain Ventures and backed by Salesforce Ventures—momentum that has now been overshadowed by the viral incident.
'Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space... Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,' Astronomer said in its statement.
The company further added that it remains committed to its mission and customer service, despite the public controversy:
'While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not. We're continuing to do what we do best: helping our customers with their toughest data and AI problems.'
Investigation Ongoing – But No Word on Cabot
On Friday, just before the resignation was made public, the company revealed it had launched a formal investigation into the matter and placed Byron on administrative leave. Cofounder Pete DeJoy has assumed interim leadership while the board searches for a permanent replacement.
Despite the controversy centring on both executives, Astronomer confirmed that no other employees were involved, and that Alyssa Stoddard, another high-ranking member of the company, was not at the event.
The company noted that Byron has made no public comment, and reports suggesting otherwise are inaccurate.
Corporate Culture and Double Standards?
The speed of Byron's resignation contrasts sharply with the silence around Cabot's status—prompting questions around company culture, gender dynamics, and whether different standards of accountability are being applied. As Chief People Officer, Cabot's role includes overseeing workplace ethics and leadership behaviour, adding further complexity to the issue.
As of now, Kristin Cabot has not released a statement, nor has Astronomer indicated any disciplinary action or investigation into her conduct.
With reputations, leadership, and company morale on the line, observers are left asking: if the CEO is gone, why hasn't the CPO followed?
