Astronomer CEO Andy Byron Resigns Following Viral Coldplay Concert Clip

Andy Byron, CEO of the New York-based data technology firm Astronomer, has stepped down after a viral video showed him embracing a colleague during a Coldplay concert. The incident, which took place at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, captured Byron and Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s Chief People Officer, on the venue’s “kiss cam” before the pair quickly ducked out of sight.

Astronomer’s board of directors accepted Byron’s resignation and announced it has begun the search for a new chief executive. In a statement released Saturday, the company reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the values and standards that have guided its operations since its founding in 2018.

“Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,” the company said. “Awareness of our company may have changed overnight, but our mission remains focused on solving challenges in data and artificial intelligence.”

The video and subsequent online speculation led to widespread attention, including false reports that Byron had issued a statement about the incident. Astronomer quickly clarified via LinkedIn that Byron had not released any public comments and that reports claiming otherwise were incorrect. The company also addressed the misidentification of a third individual seen in the clip.

As of Friday, Astronomer named co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy as interim CEO. Byron’s LinkedIn profile has since been made private, and his name has been removed from the company’s leadership page, which now lists DeJoy as the acting chief executive. However, Byron remains listed on the website as a member of the board of directors.

Astronomer, known for its work in data orchestration and AI infrastructure, stated it will continue its mission despite the unexpected spotlight the incident brought.