Astronomer CEO Andy Byron Resigns After Viral Coldplay ‘Kiss Cam’ Clip
Byron’s abrupt exit came just three days after a July 16 Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium thrust him onto the Jumbotron beside HR chief Kristin Cabot, whose startled dodge from the camera went viral within hours. As memes mushroomed across X and TikTok, Astronomer’s board placed Byron on leave and opened an investigation into possible conduct‑policy violations; the company confirmed late Saturday that he had resigned, effective immediately.
Cofounder Pete DeJoy will serve as interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent replacement. In an internal memo, DeJoy called the moment “a distraction from our mission” and vowed to rebuild trust with employees and clients who flooded Slack channels with GIFs of the now‑infamous hug. Astronomer also clarified no misuse of company funds was involved and said the probe into workplace‑relationship disclosures continues.
The scandal highlights how real‑time social media can upend corporate leadership overnight—and revives questions about executive accountability at high‑growth tech firms. While Coldplay front‑man Chris Martin has already joked about the incident on stage, branding experts warn the episode could shadow Astronomer’s upcoming Series E fundraising unless the company moves swiftly to demonstrate stronger governance controls.
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