Astronomer CEO Resigns After Controversial Concert Video

Astronomer, a private data infrastructure and operations company, announced on Saturday that its CEO, Andy Byron, has resigned. This decision comes after a viral video of Byron embracing his chief people officer, Kristin Cabot, at a Coldplay concert sparked widespread controversy and led to an investigation by the company's board. The incident, which occurred at Gillette Stadium, was captured on video and featured on the concert's jumbotron, showing Byron holding Cabot from behind as they swayed to the music. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin's comment, "Either they’re having an affair or they’re very shy," added fuel to the speculation.

The company had previously placed Byron on leave and initiated a formal investigation into the conduct of both Byron and Cabot. In a statement, Astronomer emphasized its commitment to values and culture, stating that its leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability. The board's investigation was launched to address the allegations and determine the appropriate course of action. Pete DeJoy, the company's co-founder and chief product officer, has been appointed as interim CEO during this transition period.

Astronomer, which achieved unicorn status in 2022 with a valuation of $1 billion or more, has recently moved its headquarters to New York City and secured $93 million in series D funding. The company has been recognized as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams with modern analytics and production AI. Despite the recent controversy, Astronomer has reiterated its focus on assisting customers with their data and AI challenges, maintaining that its product and customer support remain unchanged.

The viral video, which was posted on TikTok, showed Byron and Cabot's embrace at the Coldplay concert, leading to widespread speculation about their relationship. The incident raised questions about the appropriateness of such behavior between a CEO and a subordinate, as such relationships can be viewed as coercive and disruptive to workplace morale. The company has clarified that an employee speculated to have been at the concert with Byron and Cabot was not present, and refuted any alleged statements circulated online as incorrect.

Byron became CEO of Astronomer in 2023, while Cabot joined the company in November 2024. The controversy has highlighted the importance of ethical conduct and accountability within corporate leadership, as well as the potential impact of public behavior on a company's reputation. Astronomer's response to the incident demonstrates its commitment to addressing such issues transparently and taking appropriate action to maintain its values and culture.