Astronomer CEO resigns after kiss cam scandal

Andy Byron, Chief Executive Officer of New York-based tech company Astronomer, has resigned following a viral scandal involving a public display of affection with a colleague during a Coldplay concert.

The company announced the resignation on Saturday through an official statement posted on LinkedIn.

“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,” the statement read.

Byron's departure comes after a video surfaced from the concert’s kiss cam segment, capturing him in an intimate embrace with Astronomer’s Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot. The footage quickly went viral, fueling online criticism, as both Byron and Cabot are reportedly married.

Byron later issued a personal statement addressing the incident and apologizing to his wife and the Astronomer team.

“What was supposed to be a night of music and joy turned into a deeply personal mistake playing out on a very public stage. I want to sincerely apologize to my wife, my family, and the team at Astronomer. You deserve better from me as a partner, as a father, and as a leader,” he said.

“This is not who I want to be or how I want to represent the company I helped build. I’m taking time to reflect, to take accountability, and to figure out the next steps—personally and professionally. I ask for privacy as I navigate that process,” he added.

In the same statement, Astronomer reaffirmed its commitment to upholding company values amid the controversy.

“As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,” the company emphasized.

Despite the leadership shake-up, Astronomer assured clients that its work remains unaffected.