A brief moment on a concert screen has led to a major shift in leadership at one of the fastest-growing AI startups.
Andy Byron, the CEO of Astronomer, resigned after a viral video showed him embracing the company’s HR chief, Kristin Cabot, during a Coldplay concert in Boston. The moment was broadcast on the venue’s kiss cam and drew widespread attention when Coldplay’s lead singer, Chris Martin, joked, “Either they’re having an affair or they are just very shy.”
The video spread quickly online. What began as a lighthearted clip became something much more serious. Within days, Astronomer confirmed Byron’s departure, writing in a LinkedIn post, “Our leaders are expected to set the standard. Recently, that standard was not met.”
Public Scrutiny Reaches Families
While Byron and Cabot became the focus of the story, their families have been pulled into the fallout.
Byron’s wife, Megan Kerrigan, reportedly changed her social media presence. First, she dropped her married name. Then she removed her profile altogether. Her public accounts had previously shown family outings and celebratory moments.
Cabot’s husband, Andrew Cabot, is the CEO of Privateer Rum. Although he hasn’t made a public statement, changes in his recent photos were hard to ignore. In earlier images, he wore a wedding ring. In those from around the time of the concert, it’s missing.
The couple had bought a $2.2 million home in Rye, New Hampshire, just months ago. Public records and photos indicate they were together as recently as February.
Read more: Astronomer CEO Andy Byron Resigns After Coldplay Incident; Successor Search Underway
Timing Collides with Company Milestone
Byron’s resignation came just weeks after Astronomer secured $93 million in Series D funding. With backers including Salesforce and Bain Capital, the startup had been on a fast track. Byron took the helm in 2023 and was credited with driving rapid growth, according to Daily Mail.
But that momentum was disrupted. The company named co-founder Pete DeJoy as interim CEO. “While awareness of our company may have changed overnight,” the firm stated, “our mission remains the same.”
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What Comes Next
Astronomer, known for its work in the AI and data infrastructure space, now faces the task of regaining focus amid the controversy.
Whether this change at the top will slow the company’s momentum is anyone’s guess. What’s certain, for now, is the lesson: in our digital age, a single moment on camera can change a life forever.
