Viral Concert Moment Leads to Resignation of Astronomer CEO
NEW YORK — Andy Byron has resigned as CEO of the technology company Astronomer after a viral video from a Coldplay concert showed him embracing a woman during a kiss-cam moment.
Astronomer’s board announced Saturday that it accepted Byron’s resignation and is launching a search for his replacement. Pete DeJoy, the company’s co-founder and chief product officer, is serving as interim CEO.
The incident occurred Wednesday during a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, when cameras captured Byron with his arms around a woman—identified by some outlets as Astronomer’s head of HR, Kristin Cabot—during the band’s “Jumbotron Song.” The clip spread quickly online after lead singer Chris Martin joked, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy,” as the couple ducked out of view.
In response to the public attention, Astronomer launched an internal investigation and placed Byron on leave Friday before his resignation was finalized the next day.
“Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding,” the company said. “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.”
Both Byron and Cabot’s LinkedIn profiles were inactive by Friday, and neither has publicly commented.
Astronomer, a privately held New York-based company, provides software to help businesses manage workflows and implement AI-driven data solutions.
In a LinkedIn post Monday, DeJoy acknowledged the unusual media scrutiny but reaffirmed the company’s focus: “While I would never have wished for it to happen like this, Astronomer is now a household name.”
Gillette Stadium, where the incident took place, has a policy notifying attendees that their image and likeness may be recorded or broadcast during events.
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