The Resignation of Astronomer CEO Andy Byron
On Saturday, the CEO of Astronomer, Andy Byron, announced his resignation from the company. This decision came after a video surfaced showing him embracing a female colleague during a kiss cam at a Coldplay concert in Boston, Massachusetts. The incident occurred on Wednesday and quickly gained attention online.
Prior to his resignation, Byron had been placed on leave. In his absence, Pete DeJoy, co-founder and chief product officer of Astronomer, was appointed as the interim CEO. Attempts to reach DeJoy for comment were made through LinkedIn direct messages, but no response was received at the time of this report.
The Incident at the Concert
During the Coldplay concert, Byron, who is married, was seen in an embrace with Kristin Cabot, the head of human resources at Astronomer. The footage of the couple trying to hide after realizing they were on the kiss cam went viral on social media. Coldplay frontman Chris Martin even made a comment on the situation, saying, “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy.”
Following the incident, Byron’s wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, changed her last name on Facebook before deactivating her account. This move has sparked various discussions about the personal and professional implications of the event.
Company Response and Leadership Changes
On Saturday, Astronomer issued a statement confirming that “Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy is currently serving as interim CEO.” The company added that they would share more details as appropriate in the coming days.
According to his LinkedIn profile, DeJoy holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and physics from Bowdoin College in Maine. He co-founded the data company Astronomer in 2017, eventually becoming its vice-president for product in January 2023 and then its chief product officer in February 2025. A British newspaper, The Sun, reported that DeJoy was “instrumental in expanding Astronomer’s data orchestration platform” during his eight years with the company.
On LinkedIn, DeJoy stated that he “did whatever it took to bring the first incarnations of our commercial offerings to market and build our business.”
Reactions and Statements
In a statement provided to the media on Saturday, an Astronomer spokesperson 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.”
Earlier, the company reiterated its commitment to its core values, stating, “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability.” It also mentioned that the Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into the matter and will provide additional details soon. The statement clarified that Andy Byron has not made any public statements, and reports suggesting otherwise are incorrect.
Ry Walker, CEO of AI company Tembo, commented on X: “Great choice by @astronomerio in naming @petedejoy as interim CEO. He is an amazing co-founder and friend.”
What Comes Next?
It remains uncertain whether DeJoy will take over as the permanent CEO of Astronomer or if the company will look for another candidate. The situation highlights the challenges of balancing personal relationships with professional responsibilities in the corporate world.
As the company moves forward, it will be important to see how the leadership changes affect its operations and culture. The incident has already generated significant public interest, and further updates are anticipated.
