Andy Byron, the chief executive officer of Astronomer, has resigned following mounting pressure over a viral video that captured him in what appeared to be an intimate moment with a senior colleague during a Coldplay concert in the U.S.
The incident, which spread widely across social media this week, triggered an internal investigation and led to his placement on administrative leave before Saturday’s announcement confirming his exit.
In a statement, Astronomer said: “Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted. The Board will begin a search for our next Chief Executive as Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO.”
Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 18 (Sep 15 – Dec 6, 2025) today for early bird discounts. Do annual for access to Blucera.com.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and co-invest in great global startups.
Register to become a better CEO or Director with Tekedia CEO & Director Program.
The footage that led to Byron’s downfall emerged on Wednesday night at a Coldplay concert, where the tech executive was captured by cameras embracing Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s Chief People Officer. The pair were shown on the concert’s big screen, and Byron — who is married with children — appeared to quickly duck out of view once they realized they were being watched. Lead singer Chris Martin, addressing the audience, quipped: “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.” That remark, and the video taken by an audience member, went viral, setting off a storm of public and internal company criticism.
By Friday, Astronomer confirmed it had launched a formal investigation and placed Byron on leave. But with the incident continuing to dominate conversation online and within industry circles, Byron formally stepped down less than 48 hours later. In its Saturday update, the company said, “Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.”
A Startup Caught in Crisis
The scandal comes at a delicate time for Astronomer, a fast-growing data orchestration company based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 2018, Astronomer is best known for developing a commercial distribution of Apache Airflow — an open-source tool used to program, schedule, and monitor data pipelines. Airflow has become a backbone for modern data infrastructure, especially as companies adopt artificial intelligence and cloud-native analytics.
Astronomer positioned itself early on as a go-to platform for enterprises seeking scalable, flexible tools to manage complex data workflows. Its enterprise-grade tools have been adopted by global companies across finance, healthcare, and tech, with users ranging from data scientists to DevOps teams. In many ways, Astronomer rode the wave of the data and AI boom.
The company’s momentum attracted strong venture backing. In May this year, it raised $93 million in a late-stage investment round led by Bain Capital Ventures. The round also saw participation from existing and new investors, including Salesforce Ventures, Insight Partners, and Sutter Hill Ventures. The infusion was intended to support product development, expand its enterprise footprint, and accelerate growth in international markets.
Until the scandal, Byron was seen as a stabilizing force in Astronomer’s transition from a startup to an enterprise-grade platform. He joined the company in 2022 after serving in senior roles at cybersecurity firm Lacework and software company DataRobot. His appointment was seen as a move to mature Astronomer’s operations and position it for an eventual IPO or acquisition.
Internally, however, sources say tensions had been building over the executive team’s management style. While the company had built a reputation around innovation and technical excellence, the recent scandal triggered broader conversations among staff about culture, accountability, and HR leadership, especially given the involvement of Kristin Cabot.
It remains unclear whether Cabot will remain at the company. Astronomer has not commented on her role in the investigation or whether she will face disciplinary action. Multiple employees have reportedly expressed concern over the company’s handling of the situation, with some questioning whether the board acted swiftly enough given the nature of the incident and its potential for reputational damage.
With interim CEO Pete DeJoy — a cofounder and head of product — now at the helm, Astronomer is hoping to stabilize its image and reassure investors and customers that the core business remains intact. DeJoy has been with the company since its inception and is seen as a key figure behind the technical success of its Airflow-based platform.
