Astronomer’s internal leadership has seen a rapid reshuffle after a Coldplay concert incident on 16 July went viral online. Kristin Cabot, the company's chief people officer, has resigned. Her decision follows that of former CEO Andy Byron, who left the company after being seen embracing Cabot in a kiss cam moment that was broadcast to thousands during the show at Gillette Stadium in Boston.
"“I can confirm that Kristin Cabot is no longer with Astronomer; she has resigned,” a spokesperson revealed.
Both were caught by the stadium’s Jumbotron as Coldplay frontman Chris Martin paused mid-song and remarked, “Uh oh, what? Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”
That single line, said in jest, was enough to launch a social media storm.
Astronomer confirms both resignations
Kristin Cabot’s resignation came a week after Byron stepped down from his role. On Thursday, a company spokesperson told CNBC via email, “Kristin Cabot is no longer with Astronomer, she has resigned.”
The company had confirmed Byron’s departure on 20 July with the statement, “Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted.” The statement added, “The Board will begin a search for our next Chief Executive as Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO.”
Since then, both Cabot and Byron have been removed from the company’s leadership webpage.
A private moment becomes a public reckoning
The kiss cam moment was short, but the fallout has lasted days. It raised broader conversations around workplace conduct, personal boundaries, and how quickly private behaviour can go public in the smartphone era.
Neither Cabot nor Byron has made any public statements since the video surfaced. Internally, Astronomer launched a formal investigation after the incident. Their swift exits reflect the seriousness with which the company viewed the situation, especially considering Cabot’s senior HR role.
Internet sleuths identified the pair in hours
The video, recorded by a concertgoer and later published online, showed Byron and Cabot in a close embrace. As soon as they realised they were being broadcast, Cabot covered her face while Byron quickly ducked out of view.
It didn’t take long for people online to figure out who they were. Within a day, their identities were public knowledge. Another clip, obtained by TMZ, showed them earlier in the evening kissing and cuddling to the music.
The online response exploded, fuelled further by the fact that Byron is married with children. His wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, has since removed his surname from her social media profiles.
Interim CEO responds to intense public scrutiny
Stepping into the spotlight now is Pete DeJoy, Astronomer’s co-founder and current chief product officer. In a post earlier this week, he acknowledged the sharp and unexpected media glare, writing that the recent attention has made Astronomer “a household name.”
Speaking to the nature of the situation, he added, “unusual and surreal,” describing the challenge of keeping the company on course while managing a national-level media storm.
Who is Pete DeJoy?
DeJoy has been with Astronomer since its founding in 2017. He became Vice President of Product in early 2023, and was promoted to Chief Product Officer in February 2025.
He studied chemistry and physics at Bowdoin College in Maine and went on to participate in Venture for America’s fellowship programme. According to public profiles, he lives in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn and keeps his personal life mostly out of view.
The company, based in New York, focuses on commercialising open-source software and recently secured 93 million dollars in funding led by Bain Ventures and Salesforce Ventures. This leadership shake-up comes at a time when Astronomer was gaining traction among enterprise clients and expanding its market presence.
For now, the board has confirmed that it will begin a formal search for a permanent CEO. In the meantime, DeJoy is tasked with steadying the ship while the company moves on from an episode that few saw coming but many won’t forget.
"“I can confirm that Kristin Cabot is no longer with Astronomer; she has resigned,” a spokesperson revealed.
Both were caught by the stadium’s Jumbotron as Coldplay frontman Chris Martin paused mid-song and remarked, “Uh oh, what? Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”
That single line, said in jest, was enough to launch a social media storm.
Astronomer confirms both resignations
Kristin Cabot’s resignation came a week after Byron stepped down from his role. On Thursday, a company spokesperson told CNBC via email, “Kristin Cabot is no longer with Astronomer, she has resigned.”
The company had confirmed Byron’s departure on 20 July with the statement, “Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted.” The statement added, “The Board will begin a search for our next Chief Executive as Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO.”
Since then, both Cabot and Byron have been removed from the company’s leadership webpage.
A private moment becomes a public reckoning
The kiss cam moment was short, but the fallout has lasted days. It raised broader conversations around workplace conduct, personal boundaries, and how quickly private behaviour can go public in the smartphone era.
Neither Cabot nor Byron has made any public statements since the video surfaced. Internally, Astronomer launched a formal investigation after the incident. Their swift exits reflect the seriousness with which the company viewed the situation, especially considering Cabot’s senior HR role.
Internet sleuths identified the pair in hours
The video, recorded by a concertgoer and later published online, showed Byron and Cabot in a close embrace. As soon as they realised they were being broadcast, Cabot covered her face while Byron quickly ducked out of view.
It didn’t take long for people online to figure out who they were. Within a day, their identities were public knowledge. Another clip, obtained by TMZ, showed them earlier in the evening kissing and cuddling to the music.
The online response exploded, fuelled further by the fact that Byron is married with children. His wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, has since removed his surname from her social media profiles.
Interim CEO responds to intense public scrutiny
Stepping into the spotlight now is Pete DeJoy, Astronomer’s co-founder and current chief product officer. In a post earlier this week, he acknowledged the sharp and unexpected media glare, writing that the recent attention has made Astronomer “a household name.”
Speaking to the nature of the situation, he added, “unusual and surreal,” describing the challenge of keeping the company on course while managing a national-level media storm.
Who is Pete DeJoy?
DeJoy has been with Astronomer since its founding in 2017. He became Vice President of Product in early 2023, and was promoted to Chief Product Officer in February 2025.
He studied chemistry and physics at Bowdoin College in Maine and went on to participate in Venture for America’s fellowship programme. According to public profiles, he lives in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn and keeps his personal life mostly out of view.
The company, based in New York, focuses on commercialising open-source software and recently secured 93 million dollars in funding led by Bain Ventures and Salesforce Ventures. This leadership shake-up comes at a time when Astronomer was gaining traction among enterprise clients and expanding its market presence.
For now, the board has confirmed that it will begin a formal search for a permanent CEO. In the meantime, DeJoy is tasked with steadying the ship while the company moves on from an episode that few saw coming but many won’t forget.
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