Astronomer, a leading data infrastructure startup, announced over the weekend that CEO Andy Byron has formally resigned after a video showing him and the company’s chief people officer cozying up during a Coldplay “kiss cam” moment went viral. The public attention not only sparked speculation but also triggered a formal internal investigation into leadership conduct.
The company’s co-founder and chief product officer, Pete DeJoy, has taken over as interim CEO while a search begins for Byron’s permanent successor. In its statement, Astronomer emphasized its commitment to ethical leadership and said Byron’s departure is aligned with those standards.
The incident reverberated across social media, attracting commentary from Chris Martin of Coldplay and igniting scrutiny both online and within the startup community. The fallout included resurfaced allegations about Byron’s aggressive leadership style at previous roles—raising questions about internal culture.
Astronomer expressed confidence that its core products and mission remain unaffected, stressing continuity for customers and employees. With fresh leadership on deck, attention now shifts to how the company restores trust and reinforces its values.