Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigns after Coldplay kiss cam clip with HR head Kristin Cabot
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.'
Explore courses from Top Institutes in
Select a Course Category
others
CXO
Digital Marketing
Design Thinking
Others
MBA
Data Analytics
Data Science
Product Management
MCA
Operations Management
PGDM
healthcare
Artificial Intelligence
Finance
Cybersecurity
Data Science
Public Policy
Management
Project Management
Technology
Degree
Leadership
Healthcare
Skills you'll gain:
Duration:
16 Weeks
Indian School of Business
CERT - ISB Cybersecurity for Leaders Program India
Starts on
undefined
Get Details
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.
— astronomerio (@astronomerio)
Live Events
The Coldplay moment
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.'
Speculation and silence
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.
Leadership vacuum and online reaction
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.
Where the company stands now
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Golden ticket: How Indian fans are travelling abroad for sold-out concerts
Remember the fan frenzy for Coldplay tickets in India? For most, it was a dead end. But for those with flexibility — and the right budget — the solution was just a phone call away. Enter luxury concierge services. 'I spent around ₹75,000 to fly to Singapore and back to watch Coldplay live,' says Dishant Sanghvi, co-founder of WYLD, a social currency payment card, adding that he realised that by spending 'just a bit more than what people were already paying for tickets in India', he could travel abroad, get better seats, and enjoy the concert in a more comfortable setting. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Degree Finance Data Science Data Science PGDM Project Management MCA Technology Management others Design Thinking Healthcare Digital Marketing Product Management CXO Leadership healthcare Cybersecurity Artificial Intelligence Operations Management Others Public Policy MBA Skills you'll gain: Data-Driven Decision-Making Strategic Leadership and Transformation Global Business Acumen Comprehensive Business Expertise Duration: 2 Years University of Western Australia UWA Global MBA Starts on Jun 28, 2024 Get Details For discerning fans, it's not just about the music — it's about accessing the unforgettable with ease and exclusivity. These are experiences that you can't always put a price on. Mic check 'We've seen an uptick in concerts and music festivals — nearly a 3x increase over the past five years,' says Dipali Sikand, founder of Club Concierge . 'Earlier, live events were an occasional indulgence. Now they're planned like key milestones on a calendar. For our top-tier clients, attending Coachella, the Grammys, or a Coldplay concert is as normal as booking a holiday.' Single artiste concert tours are pulling in an unprecedented number of people who are ready to shell out high sums of money to be part of the experience. Take, for example, the Oasis reunion tour. While official tickets range from 73 to 205 pounds ( ₹8,400 – ₹23,000), resale sites like Viagogo have seen prices listed as high as 10,578 pounds ( ₹12.17 lakh). 'So far, we have about 80 requests for Oasis tickets. We are also getting a lot of requests for the upcoming Enrique Iglesias show,' says Manoj Adlakha, founder, RedBeryl Lifestyle Services. Getty Images Enrique Iglesias is set to return to India after more than a decade, with concerts later this year Vijaya Eastwood, founder of exclusive luxury lifestyle management service CribLife, says music is definitely 'one of the most emotion-driven spend categories' that they see across their clientele, which ranges from tech entrepreneurs to high-performing bankers to business owners. 'While motivations vary — some buy tickets for friend groups, others to impress clients or celebrate milestones — VIP concerts have become a trend for those wanting to combine leisure with a marquee live performance,' she shares. 'Many of these clients are well-travelled and digitally savvy. Attending a Coldplay concert in Singapore or a BTS performance in Tokyo is just as much a status symbol as it is a personal indulgence,' says Karan Agarwal, director, Cox & Kings, highlighting how some are using these high-octane cultural events to entertain business associates or potential clients. 'Concerts, much like sporting events or luxury fashion shows, have become a powerful new avenue for socialising and soft networking.' While most requests are typically from cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad, 'cities such as Indore, Lucknow, Surat and Coimbatore are producing a new breed of globally mobile, experience-hungry consumers who aren't hesitating to fly out for concerts in Singapore, Bangkok, Abu Dhabi or London — especially when tickets in India are unavailable or sold out', Eastwood adds. Setting the stage For concierge services, being sold out doesn't always mean impossible. 'It just means knowing where to knock,' says Sikand. 'We work through a mix of authorised resellers, direct relationships with promoters and VIP hospitality partners.' Backstage pass But it's not just about getting the ticket. It's about the larger experience — the hotel, the car, the security, the after-party invite. 'Our clients are asking for interactions, meet and greet and so on. Fan moments are a big draw,' says Adlakha. Eastwood says they have handled requests for 'management tickets', which are passes that come directly through artiste management. 'For the Coldplay concert in Bangkok, a client requested VIP meet-and-greet access, which can cost upwards of $1,500-$2,000 per head when available. But when sold out, we've facilitated it at a premium of over ₹6 lakh.' Clients can even get early access to sound checks, signed memorabilia, or artiste-hosted dinners. 'A client once asked us to organise a surprise backstage meet-and-greet with [Italian tenor] Andrea Bocelli for his parents' anniversary. Another wanted a private dinner with Bocelli's chef before the show,' adds Sikand. Set list Concierges also note an increasing demand for Indian classical music at global venues, or international jazz and opera. 'We've had clients fly in just for a week of performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival or the Salzburg Festival,' Sikand shares. There's also a growing appetite for immersive experiences — think candlelight concerts in heritage spaces or private rooftop DJ nights in Ibiza, Lata Mangeshkar tribute nights in Europe, Afrobeat and Fado in the UAE, Sufi fusion in Paris and vinyl-only DJ sets in Tokyo. But sometimes, even in the world of exclusive access, some magic doesn't manifest. A concierge service owner shares how one client once requested a private mini-concert with Adele aboard a yacht in Capri. The yacht? Arranged. The grand piano? Delivered. But Adele herself? Simply not available for private performances… at any price. 'In such cases, we focus on shaping an alternative so compelling — a live performance by her musical director followed by a virtual interaction — that it still feels exclusive.' Because the goal in the world of exclusivity is constantly to redefine what that means.
Mint
9 hours ago
- Mint
LIC-owned NBFC stock Paisalo Digital jumps 10% despite weak Indian stock market. Do you own?
Shares of Paisalo Digital jumped over 10% in intraday trade on Thursday, extending their winning streak to the third straight session. The LIC-owned non-banking finance company (NBFC) defied the weak Indian stock market trend and surged following the announcement of the record date for the final dividend. The small-cap stock also remains in focus following the announcement of its Q1 results for the quarter ended June 30 earlier this week. The small-cap NBFC on Thursday announced that the company has fixed Monday, September 22, 2025, as the record date for determining the entitlement of members to the final dividend for the financial year ended March 31, 2025. The company, along with its March quarter earnings, in May had announced a dividend@10% of ₹ 0.10 apiece for fully paid equity share of ₹ 1/- each. The payment of the final dividend as recommended by the Board of Directors is subject to the approval of the shareholders in the ensuing 33rd Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held on Monday, September 29, 2025. Paisalo Digital, meanwhile, on Monday, July 21, announced a 13.5% year-on-year jump in its net profit to ₹ 47 crore for the first quarter of FY26, as against ₹ 41.5 crore in the same period last year. The company also posted a 17.2% YoY rise in total income at ₹ 218.71 crore, compared to ₹ 186.55 crore in Q1FY25. Interest income stood at ₹ 200.88 crore, marking a 21.7% growth from the year-ago figure of ₹ 165.09 crore. However, fee and commission income declined slightly to ₹ 17.37 crore from ₹ 20.06 crore. Small-cap stock below ₹ 50 – Paisalo Digital – jumped as much as 10.30% to ₹ 35.10 on the BSE. At the same time, the BSE Sensex was down almost 0.60%. This is the third straight session of gains for the LIC-owned NBFC stock, with the scrip rallying nearly 15% during this period. Paisalo Digital share price has gained in seven out of the last eight trading sessions, resulting in an 11% rise in July so far. LIC owns 77,59,511 shares of Paisalo Digital, representing a 1.12% stake as of the June 2025 quarter.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
India's concert economy to create 1.2 cr temporary jobs by 2030-2032, says NLB Services
India's live event and concert economy is expected to generate nearly 12 million (1.2 crore) temporary jobs by 2030-2032, with over 100 large-format concerts expected annually across the country, says global technology and digital talent solutions provider NLB Services . "Live event and concert economy in India is witnessing a transformative phase, which is emerging not only as a thriving cultural phenomenon but also as an employment and economic driver, poised to generate nearly 12 million temporary jobs by 2030-2032," NLB Services CEO Sachin Alug said. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category healthcare Public Policy Operations Management Data Science Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity others Digital Marketing Product Management Others Data Science Healthcare Design Thinking MBA Finance Project Management CXO MCA PGDM Leadership Degree Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow CERT-IIML Healthcare Management India Starts on undefined Get Details This evolving landscape is fueling demand for skilled professionals in production, logistics, security, hospitality, and digital media, he stated. While metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad continue to host major international and national acts, the next wave of growth is clearly shifting toward tier II and III cities, he said. "Cities like Shillong, Guwahati, Pune, Jaipur, Kochi, Lucknow, Indore, and Chandigarh are fast becoming hotspots for high-energy live events," Alug said. Live Events He said, each concert generates 15,000 to 20,000 short-term roles across venue operations, crowd management, Food and Beverage (F&B) services, stage rigging, digital marketing, content creation, artist management, and more. Further, he said, the concert economy is acting as a multiplier for allied sectors like travel, tourism, hospitality, and F&B as well. For instance, he said, Coldplay's 2024 concert in Ahmedabad (Gujarat) added Rs 641 crore to the local economy, including Rs 72 crore in GST revenue. The ripple effects included a 300-350 per cent surge in flight demand, an 8 per cent spike in train bookings, record-high hotel tariffs (some rooms hitting Rs 90,000 a night), and huge business for local eateries and delivery platforms, he added. This concert boom is not just about short-term engagement, he said, adding that around 10-15 per cent of temporary roles are transitioning into full-time employment, particularly in domains like audio engineering, digital strategy, event tech, and production management. Repeat gigs, portfolio development, and upskilling are helping gig or freelance workers secure long-term opportunities, he noted. With over 100 such concerts expected annually, the cumulative contribution is projected to cross Rs 15,000 crores over the next few years driven by direct revenues from ticketing, hospitality, and transport, as well as indirect gains through tourism, local employment, and MSME engagement, he said.
