Andy Byron's gushing comments about Astronomer employee Kristin Cabot emerge after video
Tech mogul Andy Byron penned flattering remarks about his Astronomer colleague Kristin Cabot well before they became a viral sensation at a Coldplay gig. CEO Byron and HR executive Cabot were caught embracing on the band's "kiss cam" during their performance in Boston on Wednesday night.
Upon realising they were being broadcasted to the crowd, they abruptly disentangled themselves. Cabot hid her face with her hands while Byron ducked down to avoid the camera, reportedly muttering "f****** hell, it's me."
Frontman Chris Martin couldn't resist commenting on the scene, jesting: "Oh, what... either they're having an affair or they're just very shy." The two then scurried away from their seats, but the damage was done; the video had already gone viral, sparking curiosity about their identities and peculiar behaviour.
In the aftermath, a purported statement from Byron supposedly slammed Coldplay for airing the footage. But his company have since revealed it is fake.
Byron is the CEO of a New York-based data orchestration platform named Astronomer. The company's LinkedIn profile describes it as enabling data teams to realise essential analytics, AI, and software projects.
Cabot, the woman Byron was seen embracing, is also on the Astronomer payroll. Her LinkedIn indicates she came aboard nine months prior, holding the position of Chief People Officer.
When his colleague Cabot became part of the organisation in November, Byron offered glowing praise about her appointment in a company statement.
He declared: "Kristin's exceptional leadership and deep expertise in talent management, employee engagement, and scaling people strategies will be critical as we continue our rapid trajectory.
"She is a proven leader at multiple growth-stage companies and her passion for fostering diverse, collaborative workplaces makes her a perfect fit for Astronomer."
The announcement also highlighted that she possessed a "proven track record of preserving and enriching company culture at organizations experiencing rapid growth".
Cabot expressed similar enthusiasm, writing about being "energised in my conversations with Andy and the Astronomer leadership team and the opportunities that exist here".
She continued: "I prefer to think of my role as people strategy versus traditional human resources, as the real magic happens when you align the people strategy with the business strategy."
Byron has served as chief executive of the software development firm since July 2023, with Astronomer reportedly valued at more than $1.3billion (£1b).
The Economic Times suggests his personal wealth ranges between $20million (£14.8m) and $70million (£52m).
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