
‘Cabots talk only to God': Astronomer HR exec caught in Coldplay scandal is married into wealthy, ‘Boston Brahmin' clan
Kristin is reportedly married to Privateer Rum owner Andrew Cabot. He touts his family lineage as the sixth-generation owner of the longstanding rum brand, which was founded by the 'original' Andrew Cabot.
According to a New York Times profile of the family, the Cabots have transcended generations, and were estimated at $200 million in 1972. That's $15.4 billion in 2025.
According to the New York Post, the Cabot family is one of the original 'Boston Brahmin' clans that controlled New England for centuries. The family has been in New England for 10 generations.
Cabots are so steeped in old-money prestige and WASP tradition that even the storied Irish-Catholic Kennedy dynasty feels like an afterthought.
The family made its fortune in soot, known colloquially in industry circles as 'carbon black,' a key ingredient in car tires. However, family members have been behind a slew of businesses across New England, including the rum company.
The family patriarch, Samuel Cabot, kick-started the family's fortune by marrying Eliza Perkins, the daughter of a wealthy merchant trader.
Boston locals know the Cabot family well and even have a poem about them that says the 'Cabots speak only to God.'
'And this is good old Boston/ The home of the bean and the cod/ Where the Lowells talk only to Cabots/ And the Cabots talk only to God,' reads the local poem.
The Cabots of yesteryear were seafarers and merchants who partook in the slave and opium trade in the early 19th century.
According to the profile, they shared portions of their largesse over the years with New England educational institutions like Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Norwich University, and the Perkins School for the Blind.
Heir Francis Cabot, of New York, once said of his family that over the years they've been 'interested in two things — one is marrying rich women and the other is group singing.'
The Post, citing property records, said that the couple, Kristin and Andrew, bought a $2.2 million house on the New Hampshire coast earlier this year.
Although it is not clear when they got married, Kristin's previous divorce was finalised in 2022. This is at least their second marriage each.
A Jumbotron camera at a Coldplay concert in Boston, Massachusetts, captured Kristin Cabot in the embrace of the Astronomer CEO, Andy Byron. Both Byron and Cabot are married.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Mint
8 hours ago
- Mint
How Astronomer turned a scandal into a marketing win
Calamity strikes businesses in all shapes and forms, but the recent incident involving US-based data operations company Astronomer's ex-CEO Andy Byron and ex-chief people officer Kristin Cabot deserves to be taught as a case study in workplace crisis management at B-Schools around the world. On 18 July, Byron and Cabot, both married to other people, were caught in an intimate embrace on a jumbotron at a concert by the popular British band, Coldplay. The 'mishap", which has by now gone down in the history of scandals as 'Coldplaygate", caused an upheaval all over the internet. In no time, the couple was caught in the eye of a social media blitzkrieg, spawning much mirth, mockery and memes. Byron resigned in a few hours, Cabot followed suit days later. Last heard, Byron is considering suing Chris Martin, the lead vocalist of the band, for the viral 'kiss cam scandal". In the meantime, Astronomer installed one of its co-founders Pete DeJoy as interim CEO, who quickly went into damage control mode by making the right noises. In his first post on LinkedIn since the incident, he praised the integrity and professionalism of his employees in the face of all the attention Astronomer has recently received. 'The events of the past few days have received a level of media attention that few companies—let alone startups in our small corner of the data and AI world—ever encounter," DeJoy wrote. 'The spotlight has been unusual and surreal for our team and, while I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name." It was a textbook move on managing crises in the workplace: start by clearly acknowledging the problem and accessing the extent of the damage. Ironically, Astronomer's reputational troubles proved to be a blessing in disguise because it was caused by poor personal choices of its leaders rather than unscrupulous business decisions. Had it involved a disaster pertaining to the company's services or finances, it would have been much harder for even the best PR machinery to undo. For comparison, think of the 2009 Satyam scandal, when founder-chairman B. Ramalinga Raju confessed to a massive accounting fraud, shaking up India's IT sector as well as global investor confidence, eventually leading to Satyam's dissolution. No Bad Publicity A cursory glance at Google Trends data over the last two weeks validates DeJoy's statement. On 16 July, 'Astronomer" was at -1 in terms of search interests on the engine. On 18 July it hit 100, indicating peak interest. Over the next few days, the levels of public curiosity began to decline, but by that time, the scandal had 'achieved" something unexpected. For a start-up with 300-odd employees based in Ohio that provides a niche service, a sudden spike of public interest was too good an opportunity to pass up. So, Astronomer decided to get advertising maverick Ryan Reynolds to turn the controversy into a cool marketing strategy. Reynolds' company, Maximum Effort, recently released a video featuring actor and entrepreneur Gwyneth Paltrow, who also happens to be Chris Martin's ex-wife, to diffuse the negative chatter around Astronomer. More leaves taken out of the book of crisis management: formulate a solid strategic response and execute it carefully. Paltrow's video does a masterful job of shifting attention from the speculations about the disgraced leaders at Astronomer. Instead, it focuses on explaining what the company does—which no one who is not working with or in niche tech would have likely known. At the time of writing, the video has over 67,000 likes on Instagram with nearly 85,000 shares. For perspective, the post right before this clip was snapshots of scenes from a meetup in Berlin that Astronomer posted on 9 July. It has 147 likes and 6 shares. The ingenious strategic public response by Astronomer to its recent misfortunes shows that it is possible to counter virality with virality in the age of social media. Instead of shirking from a negative story, the company decided to own the narrative and turn it into a force for positive reinforcement. The move was perfectly timed as well—just as attention on the company was on the wane. Is it possible to police personal interactions in the workplace, especially when people spend more time than ever before with their colleagues on a daily basis rather than at home with their spouses, partners and family? No. But is it still possible to uphold the values that make for a respectful and accountable workplace—especially when all hell breaks loose? Yes. Crisis management lessons need to evolve and keep pace with the times. The idea that no publicity is bad publicity isn't necessarily true. But when life gives you a scandal in the workplace, you might as well try to turn it into a business opportunity. That's the gamble DeJoy and his crisis management team decided to lean on. It's too early to say if it has turned its fortunes around, but at least the unexpected stunt has got Astronomer even more eyeballs than it would have probably got in all of its ten-year-long existence. Work Vibes is a fortnightly column on ideas to help you thrive at what you do.


Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Who is Steve Bannon? The Harvard-educated banker who briefly served as Trump's chief strategist
When Steve Bannon recently proclaimed that 'no foreign students should be in the country right now' and called for an end to H‑1B visas, it sparked global headlines and fresh anxiety across Indian student and tech communities. But behind the controversy lies a career shaped by elite education, military discipline, high finance, and a polarising chapter in American politics. So who is Steve Bannon, really? From Norfolk to the Navy Born in 1953 in a working-class Irish-Catholic family in Norfolk, Virginia, Stephen Kevin Bannon's early years were unremarkable—but he stood out for his discipline and drive. He earned his B.A. in urban planning from Virginia Tech in 1976, where he was active in student government and edited the school newspaper. Rather than head directly to business or law school like many of his peers, Bannon joined the United States Navy, serving as a surface warfare officer aboard a destroyer and later as a Pentagon aide. Even while in uniform, Bannon was studying—earning a master's in national security studies from Georgetown University at night. Harvard Business School and the big break After leaving the Navy in the early '80s, Bannon set his sights on Wall Street. He enrolled at Harvard Business School, graduating with an MBA in 1985. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pierce Brosnan's Wife Lost 120 Pounds - This Is Her Now Undo He later described the experience as transformative, saying Harvard 'taught him how the world really works.' His next move was into the high-stakes world of investment banking. He joined Goldman Sachs, where he worked on mergers and acquisitions, particularly in the media sector. Bannon rose quickly, eventually co-founding his own boutique firm, Bannon & Co. One of his smartest deals? Negotiating a small equity stake in Seinfeld 's syndication profits—a stream of income that would serve him well in the decades to come. Hollywood, documentaries, and a shift to ideology In the 1990s, Bannon moved to Los Angeles, pivoting into the world of media production. He produced several low-profile films and documentaries, but it wasn't until the early 2000s that his ideology began to clearly shape his work. He directed In the Face of Evil , a Reagan-era documentary that would later catch the attention of conservative circles. That project marked the beginning of Bannon's ideological transformation—from financier to nationalist firebrand. Breitbart and the rise of the alt-right In 2007, Bannon became involved with Breitbart News, a right-wing website founded by Andrew Breitbart. After Breitbart's death in 2012, Bannon took over and refashioned the site into what he famously called 'the platform for the alt-right.' Under Bannon, Breitbart trafficked in controversial and hyper-partisan content, gaining popularity among conservatives disillusioned with mainstream politics. He positioned himself as a cultural warrior, often blending economic populism with harsh rhetoric on immigration, Islam, and globalism. Trump's campaign and a brief White House stint Bannon's influence peaked when he joined Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign as its CEO during its most critical stretch. He helped sharpen Trump's messaging around nationalism, trade protectionism, and immigration, becoming an architect of what he called 'economic nationalism.' Following Trump's victory, Bannon was named White House Chief Strategist, a role he held from January to August 2017. His tenure was marked by clashes with other top officials and a controversial presence in policymaking. He was reportedly behind some of the administration's early hardline immigration and travel ban policies. But Bannon's time in the White House was short-lived. After months of infighting and negative press, he was pushed out. Trump later distanced himself from Bannon, calling him 'Sloppy Steve' after a very public fallout. Global nationalism and more controversy Since leaving the White House, Bannon has tried to shape nationalist movements in Europe and has remained a provocateur in American media and politics. He was indicted in 2020 on fraud charges related to a fundraising campaign for Trump's border wall—charges that were later dropped after a presidential pardon. As of 2025, Bannon is back in the spotlight for his hardline views on education and immigration, calling for: A ban on H‑1B visas Immediate departure of foreign graduates after finishing U.S. degrees The dismantling of post-study work programs like OPT These statements have drawn strong reactions from tech leaders, universities, and immigration advocates, with critics calling them economically self-defeating and socially divisive. Bannon's lasting influence Bannon is no policymaker today, but he remains an influential voice in far-right circles, particularly those shaping conservative views on immigration, education, and globalisation. For students and aspiring professionals, his words are a reminder that U.S. immigration policy can shift with the winds of political ideology, even if not immediately. Understanding the thinkers behind these positions, including their backgrounds, helps decode the bigger picture. Steve Bannon is a man of contradictions: a Harvard graduate who now rails against elite institutions, a former investment banker who became a voice of economic populism, and a media producer who once helped elect a president, only to be cast aside by him months later. Whether you agree with him or not, Bannon's journey from classrooms and boardrooms to political war rooms reveals the winding paths that education, ideology, and ambition can take, especially in America's volatile public sphere. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!


Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
After Trump's tariffs, why everything from coffee to cars may soon cost more in US
In April, US President Donald Trump announced sweeping new tariffs that importing firms must pay to bring goods from abroad. Since then, some of America's major trading partners – including the UK, Japan, and now the European Union — have negotiated down the headline tariff rates. The EU's agreement has cut in half the 30 per cent tariff Trump had threatened. But other countries, including Canada, are still facing higher rates. As the August 1 deadline passed, Canada saw tariffs rise to 35 per cent. Trump argues the extra tariffs will generate billions in revenue and push firms to manufacture within the US. 'Many refineries need heavier crude oil to maximize flexibility of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel production,' according to the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers. But there are early signs the levies are already pushing up prices for American consumers, and economists warn the full effects may still be ahead. Most clothing and footwear sold in the US is made abroad, like in countries like Vietnam, China, and Bangladesh. Though Trump backed off from the steepest tariffs he initially proposed, taxes on imports from those countries remain sharply elevated. The US is now charging at least 30 per cent on goods from China, and plans to collect 19–20 per cent on imports from Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. Major retailers like Walmart and Target, as well as brands like Levi Strauss and Nike, are under pressure with some already warning of price hikes. After months of declines, apparel prices jumped 0.4 per cent from May to June. According to the Budget Lab at Yale, as quoted by BBC, clothing prices could rise 37 per cent in the short run. Nearly all the coffee consumed in the US is imported. Brazilian coffee faces 50 per cent tariffs, while Vietnamese coffee may be hit with a 20 per cent rate. The EU deal includes 15 per cent tariffs on products like olive oil from Italy, Spain, and Greece. Meanwhile, Trump raised tariffs on Mexico, a major supplier of tomatoes and avocados. Though some products have been exempted, the Budget Lab at Yale estimates that food prices will rise 3.4 per cent in the short term, with fresh produce hit hardest. European companies sell about €9 billion worth of alcohol to the US each year, including brands like Pernod Ricard and LVMH. Europe supplies a third of Irish whiskey exports and nearly 18 per cent of champagne exports. The European Commission hasn't confirmed whether alcohol is included in the recent tariff agreement or exempted with other food items. Meanwhile, tariffs on Mexican aluminum are expected to raise the cost of canned beer. About 64 per cent of US beer is served in cans, according to the Beer Institute. In March, Trump introduced a 25 per cent levy on imported passenger vehicles and parts, saying it would 'protect America's automobile industry.' That has since been lowered to 15 per cent for the EU and Japan, and 10 per cent for UK vehicles. So far, car prices haven't risen significantly. Erin Keating, executive analyst at Cox Automotive, says firms are 'absorbing more of the burden [from tariffs] and not passing the added costs to consumers'. But that might not last. Many vehicles sold by US companies are assembled in Mexico or Canada, meaning they too are now subject to the levies. Tariffs on steel and aluminum have already raised building costs. A 50 per cent copper tariff is now in effect, and lumber may be next. 'Consumers end up paying for the tariffs in the form of higher home prices,' said the National Association of Home Builders, BBC reported. A Canadian Chamber of Commerce report noted that the US gets 69 per cent of its lumber, 25 per cent of its imported iron and steel, and 18 per cent of copper from Canada, all now vulnerable to US tariffs. The US-EU deal will see Europe increase its imports of American LNG, oil, and nuclear fuels, which European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said would help 'replace Russian gas and oil'. But US consumers may not benefit. While oil and gas imports are largely exempt from tariffs, Trump placed a 10 per cent levy on energy exports from Canada, America's top foreign supplier of crude oil. Between January and November 2024, 61 per cent of US oil imports came from Canada. The US doesn't lack oil, but its refineries are built to process heavier crude, which mostly comes from Canada. If Canada retaliates by reducing exports, fuel prices could rise.