'Conduct, Accountability': Astronomer CEO Andy Byron Resigns After Affair Scandal

Coldplay’s recent concert in Massachusetts has become a talking point, though not for the band’s performance. A viral video from the Boston gig shows frontman Chris Martin inadvertently drawing attention to Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and HR head Kristin Cabot locked in a close embrace. As the visual spread drew widespread attention on social media, Byron resigned from his role following a 'formal investigation' against him by the company's Board of Directors.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the company said, "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. Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted."

The statement added that Astronomer co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy will serve as interim CEO.

Affair caught on cam?

Andy Byron and Kristin Cabot were caught snuggling on the 'Kiss Cam' at Coldplay's Boston concert. As the camera lingered on them, both quickly pulled apart and attempted to shield their faces, sparking a frenzy of online speculation. The band's frontman, Chris Martin, mused that they must be “having an affair.”

Soon, Byron rushed to hide his face behind the barriers, while Cabot remained in the spotlight as she hid her face with her hands. “Holy sh-t. I hope we didn’t do something bad,” Martin said, according to additional footage taken right after.

A flood of scrutiny followed, as various online accounts purported to identify the couple and share details of their personal lives.

Who is Andy Byron?

Byron has been serving as the chief executive officer of Astronomer since July 2023, as per his LinkedIn profile. He previously served as President of Lacework from 2019 until 2022, and then briefly served as an advisor to the company. Newsweek reports that Astronomer, a private data infrastructure startup, achieved coveted “unicorn” status in 2022, with a valuation exceeding $1 billion. The company recently relocated its headquarters to New York City.

Is Andy Byron married?

Byron is married to Megan Kerrigan Byron, and the couple have two children together. One X user claimed thatByron’s wifehad dropped her married name from her Facebook profile, and didn’t restrict people from making comments.

Who is Kristin Cabot?

Kristin Cabot recently divorced her husband, Kenneth Thornby. Cabot and Thornby filed for divorce in 2018, and the split was finalised in 2022, according to the New York Post. It’s unclear if she has since remarried. The former couple has one child togethher.