A former employee has described Andy Byron, CEO of the New York-based software company Astronomer, as a “toxic boss” following a viral moment at a Coldplay concert that has sparked widespread speculation and criticism.
Byron, who is married, was spotted getting close to the firm’s Head of HR, Kristin Cabot, during a recent Coldplay performance. The two were caught on the venue’s “kiss cam,” prompting Byron to quickly duck out of the frame while Cabot covered her face and turned away. The brief but conspicuous interaction, which was captured on video and widely circulated online, triggered rumours of an alleged affair between the executive and the HR head.
Speaking to the New York Post, a former colleague of Byron said the incident had ignited gleeful reactions among ex-employees. “The text groups and chains of former employees are like… everybody’s laughing their ass off and enjoying the hell out of what happened and him getting exposed,” the person said.
The individual further branded Byron a “toxic boss,” accusing him of fostering a culture of aggression and intolerance at the workplace. “He got what he deserved,” the ex-employee reportedly added.
Further allegations about Byron’s management style were documented in a 2018 Page Six report titled “Fake Hire, Staff Departures Roil SoftBank-Backed Security Startup.” At the time, Byron was the Chief Revenue Officer at tech firm Cybereason. The article quoted multiple former staff members who claimed that Byron “would lash out against employees who disagreed with him, including threatening to fire them.”
In response to those earlier accusations, Byron denied exhibiting toxic behaviour, stating instead that his “difficult decisions” — made with the aim of growing the company — “disappointed some individuals.”
The latest controversy, fuelled by the Coldplay footage, has revived scrutiny around both Byron and Cabot. Online users have unearthed past comments by Cabot, who once reportedly said she “wins the trust of CEOs” — a remark that has since gone viral amid the ongoing scandal.
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