The CEO of data orchestration firm Astronomer, Andy Byron, and the company's Head of Human Resources, Kristin Cabot, have been placed on administrative leave after a video of the pair at a Coldplay concert in Boston went viral, drawing unwanted scrutiny and triggering internal upheaval at the AI-focused firm.
The incident, which took place during a “kiss cam” moment at Coldplay’s Gillette Stadium performance, captured Byron hugging Cabot from behind. Both appeared visibly startled as they noticed themselves on the stadium’s big screen, and were seen hurriedly trying to shield their faces. The video rapidly gained traction online, prompting speculation over the nature of their relationship and its implications for the company’s leadership.
In the immediate aftermath, Astronomer’s Board of Directors announced that it had launched a formal internal investigation, adding that Byron and Cabot are currently negotiating their exit from the company, as reported by Axios. Sources cited in the report also claimed that the company’s delay in responding publicly was due in part to Byron’s slow resignation and negotiations over his exit package.
Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy is currently serving as interim CEO given Andy Byron has been placed on leave.We will share more details as appropriate in the coming days. pic.twitter.com/VfgWPnfycl
— Astronomer (@astronomerio) July 19, 2025
In a statement released on Saturday, Astronomer 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. The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter, and we will have additional details to share very shortly.”
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.The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional… pic.twitter.com/rfrAQ5bygy
— Astronomer (@astronomerio) July 18, 2025
The firm also issued clarifications on social media, refuting viral rumours that Vice President of Human Resources Alyssa Stoddard was the woman in the video.
“Alyssa Stoddard was not at the event and no other employees were in the video,” the company stated, addressing online misidentification.
Byron, who assumed the role of CEO in July 2023, has not released a public statement regarding the matter. The company confirmed that any claims stating otherwise are “incorrect”. In light of the ongoing investigation, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy has been appointed interim CEO.
The video also caught the attention of Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, who, after joking from the stage, expressed discomfort over the situation.
“Either they’re having an affair or they’re just really shy,” Martin quipped, before quickly backtracking: “Oh s**t, I hope we didn’t do something bad.”
The moment sparked widespread speculation about Byron’s personal life, as he is married to Megan Kerrigan Byron, with whom he shares two children. The family resides in Northborough, Massachusetts. Following the video’s circulation, observers noted that Kerrigan removed her married surname from her Facebook profile.
Byron’s now-deleted LinkedIn profile detailed his professional journey, which includes leadership roles at several tech companies such as Lacework, Cybereason, Fuze, BMC Software, BladeLogic, and VeriCenter.
Kristin Cabot was hired by Byron as Head of HR in November 2024. At the time, Byron praised her appointment in an official release:
“Kristin’s exceptional leadership and deep enterprise in talent management, employee engagement, and scaling people strategies will be critical as we continue our rapid trajectory.”
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