Andy Byron, CEO of New York-based tech company Astronomer, has stepped down after a viral video showed him embracing a colleague at a Coldplay concert.
In a statement released Saturday, Astronomer’s board of directors confirmed it had accepted Byron’s resignation and begun the search for a new chief executive.
The company also announced that co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy will serve as interim CEO.
The incident, which occurred during Coldplay’s performance at Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, showed Byron and Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s Chief People Officer, cuddling on the venue’s “kiss cam” screen before quickly attempting to hide their faces.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin playfully commented on the moment, saying, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”
Following the video’s spread online, unverified statements attributed to Byron circulated, prompting Astronomer to clarify on LinkedIn that he had issued no official comment and that some reports were inaccurate.
The company also addressed the misidentification of a third individual seen in the footage.
Reaffirming its stance on corporate ethics, Astronomer stated: “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.” The board also revealed that a formal investigation into the matter had been launched.
Though Byron’s LinkedIn profile has since been deactivated and his name removed from the company’s leadership page, he remains listed as a member of the board of directors on Astronomer’s website.
Founded in 2018, Astronomer specializes in data and AI operations.
The company acknowledged the surge in public attention caused by the incident but emphasized its ongoing commitment to its core mission.