Astronomer CEO Resigns After Embarrassing Kiss Cam Incident

Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigned after being caught hugging his HR director on a kiss cam at a Coldplay concert. The company put Byron and the HR director on leave and announced that Byron's resignation was due to the company's high standards for conduct and accountability not being met. Astronomer will begin a search for Byron's successor, with co-founder Pete DeJoy serving as interim CEO.

Andy Byron, the chief executive of New York-based tech company Astronomer, has resigned following a viral incident at a Coldplay concert. Byron was spotted embracing HR director Kristin Cabot on the concert's kiss cam, leading to his resignation and the company's decision to put both on leave [1][2][3].

Astronomer's board of directors accepted Byron's resignation and will commence a search for a new CEO. Pete DeJoy, the company's co-founder and chief product officer, has been appointed as interim CEO [1][2][3]. The company's statement emphasized its commitment to values and culture, noting that Byron's actions did not meet the company's standards for conduct and accountability [1][2].

The incident, which took place at a concert in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Wednesday, quickly gained widespread attention, with the viral footage amassing over 45 million views on TikTok alone. The public scrutiny and Astronomer's swift response reflect increasing demand for accountability among top executives, particularly when personal conduct intersects with workplace dynamics [2].

Byron led data infrastructure startup Astronomer from July 2023 until his resignation. Cabot, who joined the company in November 2024, was commended by Byron for her exceptional leadership and deep expertise in talent management and employee engagement [2]. Neither Byron nor Cabot has publicly commented on the incident.

The incident has sparked broader conversations about privacy, social media exposure, and the boundaries between personal and professional life. As Astronomer moves forward, it will continue to focus on its core mission of helping customers with their data and AI challenges [3].

References:
[1] https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/19/business/andy-byron-astronomer-ceo-resigns
[2] https://www.newsweek.com/astronomer-ceo-andy-byron-resigns-after-coldplay-kiss-cam-moment-2101267
[3] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/19/coldplay-couple-ceo-andy-byron-resigns