• Source:JND
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Andy Byron, the CEO of Astronomer, has stepped down after a viral video scandal that showed him getting cozy with the company’s HR Chief, Kristin Cabot, during a Coldplay concert. The company’s Board of Directors confirmed Byron’s resignation in an official statement on Saturday, adding that Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy will continue to serve as interim CEO while a search for a permanent successor begins.

The controversy erupted after Byron and Cabot were caught on the Coldplay ‘kiss cam’ at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Wednesday night. The video showed Byron hugging Cabot from behind as the band’s frontman, Chris Martin, pointed out the couple on the Jumbotron. The pair ducked awkwardly when they saw themselves on the big screen, but Martin’s cheeky comment, that they were “either very shy or having an affair,” added fuel to the speculation. Within hours, the video had gone viral on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and other sites, triggering mass questioning of the alleged affair. Byron is married to Megan Kerrigan Byron, and Cabot's husband is Andrew Cabot, CEO of Privateer Rum.

Astronomer Confirms Resignation, Reiterates Commitment to Customers

In its release, Astronomer, which is one of the DataOps and AI industry leaders, admitted the incident had affected its reputation but emphasized that its products and services are not altered. “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 company said in a LinkedIn post.

ALSO READ: Astronomer CEO Andy Byron, Kristin Cabot Caught Kissing At Coldplay Concert | Watch New Video

The company reassured its customers, “While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not. We continue to help data teams solve their toughest analytics and AI problems.” Though Byron has resigned, Kristin Cabot is still on administrative leave. Astronomer will not yet confirm whether Cabot will be taking the same action. Both executives were first put on leave by the company pending an internal investigation. Speculation online regarding Cabot's fate continues to intensify, with many social media commentators inquiring whether she will also resign or be fired. Neither Byron nor Cabot has personally released a statement regarding the incident.

ALSO READ: Viral Hug Costs Astronomer CEO His Job? Andy Byron Placed On Leave After Coldplay 'Kiss Cam' Video

Company Reputation Takes a Hit

Meanwhile, the controversy has generated new accusations about Byron's management style. An ex-employee called him a "toxic boss," stating that the viral video only revealed a culture issue in Astronomer. It was established as a DataOps pioneer, and Astronomer supports data teams in handling current analytics and production-grade AI workflows. Despite the loss of reputation, the company asserts it is operating fully and is committed to its clients. The Board has initiated the recruitment process for a new permanent CEO, with Pete DeJoy remaining in an interim position.