Andy Byron, CEO of Astronomer, has stepped down after being filmed kissing a colleague—his HR director—during a Coldplay concert. This viral incident ultimately led to his downfall.
How a Coldplay concert trapped the Astronomer CEO
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts. Andy Byron and Astronomer’s HR director, Kristin Cabot, were out together when the Kiss Cam—common at American arenas—caught them in an intimate embrace. The problem? Andy was married, but not to Kristin.
Upon realizing they were on the massive stadium screen, Byron sharply pulled away, and Kristin covered her face and turned away—CNN later reported. This desperate attempt to avoid attention only fueled curiosity and media attention.
Coldplay’s lead singer, Chris Martin, quipped:
> “Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy.”
This offhand remark turned a cringe-worthy moment into a global meme.
Astronomer deals with backlash over its CEO’s viral moment
Within hours, internet sleuths identified Byron and Cabot using their social media profiles. The company—known for automated data flow management—suddenly found itself in the spotlight for reasons far removed from its tech products.
In a statement released the following Saturday, Astronomer said:
> “Leaders are expected to set the standard in conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.”
Byron immediately submitted his resignation, which the board accepted. Co‑founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy has been named interim CEO. The company has reassured customers that, despite the sudden fame, “our product and our work for our customers have not changed.”
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