Daijiworld Media Network – Boston

Boston, Jul 20: Andy Byron, CEO of US-based tech firm Astronomer, has stepped down following a viral video that captured him sharing an intimate moment with a female colleague during a Coldplay concert in Boston. The clip, which aired during the event’s "Kiss Cam" segment, quickly drew global attention and intense social media backlash.

The company announced Byron’s resignation via a statement on LinkedIn, admitting that “standards were not met” and reaffirming its commitment to professional conduct and accountability. “Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted,” the post read. Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy will continue as interim CEO while the board begins the search for a new leader.

The controversy erupted after Byron was caught embracing Astronomer's HR head Kristin Cabot at the concert. The moment turned awkward when the two abruptly separated as the camera zoomed in, with Byron ducking out of frame and Cabot appearing to hide her face. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin jokingly commented that the couple was “either too shy or having an affair,” adding further fuel to the speculation.

The video sparked widespread criticism, especially as both Byron and Cabot are reportedly married to other partners. The situation escalated when Astronomer confirmed that its board had launched a formal investigation into the matter and placed Byron on leave a day prior to his resignation.

Following the incident, Byron’s wife, Megan Kerrigan, removed his surname from her Facebook profile before deactivating her account entirely.

In its statement, Astronomer clarified that another woman seen in the video was not a company employee, dismissing earlier reports identifying her as Alyssa Stoddard, the firm’s Senior Director of People. “Alyssa Stoddard was not at the event and no other employees were in the video,” the company confirmed.

While acknowledging the sudden global attention, the company emphasized that its core mission remains unchanged. “While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not,” it stated. Astronomer, known for pioneering work in the DataOps space, reaffirmed its focus on solving complex data and AI challenges.