Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigns after Coldplay kiss cam clip with HR head Kristin Cabot

Economic Times

5 days ago

Andy Byron has resigned as CEO of Astronomer, a US-based AI and data platform company, after a viral video showed him embracing colleague Kristin Cabot at a Coldplay concert. The clip sparked online speculation, especially after it was revealed both are married to other people. Byron was placed on leave before his resignation was formally accepted. Cabot's job status remains unclear. The firm says its operations continue unchanged and that it remains committed to its stated values.
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The Coldplay moment
Speculation and silence
Leadership vacuum and online reaction
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Where the company stands now
Andy Byron, chief executive of Astronomer Inc. , has resigned following widespread backlash from a viral video taken at a Coldplay concert. In the footage, Byron was seen closely embracing the company's Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot . Both are married. The company confirmed his resignation in a public statement released on Saturday.'Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding,' the company wrote on LinkedIn. 'Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met. 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.'The incident and its fallout have placed Astronomer in an unrelenting media spotlight. The company, known for its Astro platform built on Apache Airflow , insists its product and client work remain unaffected.'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,' the company said.The story began on Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. During a Coldplay concert, Byron and Cabot appeared on the venue's kiss cam. As the camera panned to them, the pair were seen hugging. Byron quickly ducked out of frame and Cabot spun around, covering her face with her hands.Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin, noticing the pair on screen, commented to the crowd, 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy.' That single line lit the match.The clip spread rapidly across social media. Within hours, online users had identified the pair through their professional profiles. The clip didn't just spark gossip — it brought with it consequences.By Thursday, both Byron and Cabot had been placed on administrative leave. Astronomer responded swiftly, releasing a statement reiterating its commitment to accountability: 'The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter, and we will have additional details to share very shortly.'Neither Byron nor Cabot has issued any public comment since the incident. What fuelled the public interest further was that both hold senior roles and are publicly known to be married. Byron's wife is marketing professional Megan Kerrigan, while Cabot is married to Andrew Cabot, CEO of Privateer Rum.The company spokesperson confirmed that only the two individuals involved were employees of Astronomer. However, when asked specifically about Cabot's job status, the spokesperson declined to comment. As of now, she remains on leave, and no decision has been announced.Astronomer did clarify that online rumours wrongly identified the woman in the video as Vice President of Human Resources Alyssa Stoddard. The woman shown was in fact Kristin Cabot.Byron had only been CEO of Astronomer since July 2023. Cabot joined in November 2024 as Chief People Officer, overseeing the company's HR and workplace culture functions. Both were considered central to the company's recent restructuring and growth.In the days since the video went viral, Astronomer's social media has been flooded with comments and speculation, including demands for Cabot's resignation.'I wonder if Kristin Cabot will also resign,' one user posted on X (formerly Twitter). Another wrote, 'You'd have to think that Kristin Cabot will resign or be terminated also. My heart goes out to Megan Kerrigan and her two teen sons. The fallout of this date is devastatingly wild.'The board has not commented publicly on whether further action is expected.Despite the storm, Astronomer has made clear it's not changing course. In its public communications, the company has focused on distancing its work from the controversy and doubling down on its mission in the data and AI space.Pete DeJoy, now interim CEO, is expected to lead while the board conducts its executive search. No timeline has been provided for when a permanent CEO will be appointed.The internal investigation is still underway.For now, Astronomer appears determined to close the chapter and return focus to its product. Whether the public and its clients see it the same way remains to be seen.(With inputs from Reuters)