Andy Byron, the Chief Executive Officer of New York-based tech firm Astronomer, has stepped down from his position after a video of him embracing a colleague at a Coldplay concert gained widespread attention online.
In a statement released on Saturday and obtained by CNN, the company confirmed that its board had accepted Byron’s resignation and had initiated the search for a new chief executive.
The incident, which occurred during a Coldplay performance at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, featured Byron and Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s Chief People Officer, appearing on the stadium’s “kiss cam” while visibly close. As the camera lingered on the pair, they quickly pulled apart and attempted to avoid further attention. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin added to the moment by joking, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”
In the days following the video’s circulation, several unofficial statements attributed to Byron began to surface online. However, Astronomer swiftly denied these claims via LinkedIn, stating that “Andy Byron has not released any statement,” and calling the reports “incorrect.”
The company also addressed the mistaken identity of a third individual who appeared briefly in the viral footage. “Astronomer remains committed to upholding the values that have guided our organization since inception,” the company said. “Our leadership is expected to demonstrate integrity and accountability. Unfortunately, that expectation was not met in this instance.”
Founded in 2018, Astronomer specializes in data and artificial intelligence solutions. In response to the leadership shakeup, the company announced that co-founder and Chief Product Officer, Pete DeJoy, would assume the role of interim CEO while a formal investigation into the matter proceeds.
“Our board has initiated a thorough review and will provide further updates in due course,” the company added.
Following the announcement, Byron’s profile was removed from Astronomer’s leadership page, although he remains listed as a board member. His LinkedIn account has also been taken offline.
Despite the sudden change in leadership and the surge in public attention, the company reaffirmed its commitment to its mission in the tech space, emphasizing that its focus on solving complex data and AI challenges remains unchanged.
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