Andy Byron has officially stepped down as CEO of Astronomer, following days of backlash over a now-viral kiss cam video that captured a personal moment between him and the company’s HR chief, Kristin Cabot, at a Coldplay concert. The company confirmed his resignation in a statement released Saturday, also announcing that cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy will take over as interim CEO.
Andy Byron Resigns
The video, taken earlier this week at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, showed Andy Byron hugging Kristin Cabot from behind while the two appeared on the stadium’s kiss cam. What might have seemed like a light-hearted concert moment quickly spiraled into a major corporate controversy after social media users identified both individuals and linked them back to the tech company. The situation worsened when it was revealed that both Byron and Cabot are married to other people.
The company initially placed both executives on leave while launching an internal investigation. Now, just days later, both have exited the company. In its announcement, Astronomer acknowledged that recent events had fallen short of the standards expected from its leadership. Without naming Cabot directly, the statement confirmed Byron’s resignation and emphasized the company’s continued commitment to its core values.
Pete DeJoy, a founding member of Astronomer and the current Chief Product Officer, has been tapped to lead the company during this transition. While the Board searches for a permanent CEO, DeJoy will serve in the interim. He appeared to weigh in subtly on the incident by liking a LinkedIn post from a former employee that referenced the viral memes circulating about the scandal.
The former employee, Zachary Hensley, who served as Astronomer’s VP of technology and operations until 2024, acknowledged the internet’s reaction in his post. DeJoy’s response suggests he may be aware of the company’s viral moment, even as he works to steer it forward.
Also Read: Guess What? Andy Byron, Kristin Cabot To Resign After Kiss Cam Scandal As Per Reports
In their official statement, the company assured customers that the leadership shakeup does not affect the company’s core operations. They also promised that their mission to support data and AI teams remains unchanged.