Latest news with #Airflow
News18
22-07-2025
- Business
- News18
What Does Astronomer Do — Firm Where ‘Cheater' Andy Byron Was CEO? Explained With Uber Ride Details
Last Updated: Andy Byron, the former CEO of Astronomer, became a viral talking point after being spotted in an intimate moment with Kristin Cabot, the firm's HR chief, during a Coldplay concert. The name Andy Byron has taken over the internet in recent days, but not for reasons a CEO would hope for. Byron, the former CEO of tech company Astronomer, became a viral talking point after being spotted in an intimate moment with Kristin Cabot, the firm's HR chief, during a Coldplay concert in Massachusetts. The two were caught on the kiss cam and panicked when their faces showed up on the big screen. That clip gained massive attention instantly with online sleuths digging up their identities and alleged affair despite both being married. Following the incident, Byron stepped down from his role. With the scandal still trending, many have shifted their curiosity to the company at the center of it all: Astronomer. What does this firm actually do? A recent Instagram video breaks it down with a relatable example: booking an Uber. The video mentioned that when someone books a ride, the location is stored in one system, the driver's details in another and payment information in a third. Despite this, the ride gets confirmed in a matter of seconds. That kind of instant data coordination doesn't just happen on its own. Behind it is a tool called Apache Airflow, which helps manage and streamline data across different systems in a set sequence. But Airflow isn't perfect. The video explains, 'Airflow crashes when servers need updates and requires constant manual fixes." That's where Astronomer steps in. The company has built Astro, a platform that runs on top of Apache Airflow. 'They build Astro on top of Airflow which runs everything in a custom cloud infrastructure with automatic updates, making it 2-3 times faster than those of tech giants," the video shares. It also points out that Astronomer didn't just improve Airflow, they actually control a big part of its development. The company has brought in over 19 of the top code contributors who work directly on Apache Airflow, which gives them an edge in shaping up the software. According to Astronomer's website, 'Astro is a fully managed platform built on Apache Airflow. Astro simplifies the management of Airflow at scale, offering enterprise-grade observability, governance, and security features. With dynamic scaling and integrated cloud services, Astro enables you to focus on building and running workflows, without worrying about infrastructure." Following Byron's resignation, the CEO position has been temporarily taken over by Pete DeJoy. Reacting to the controversy, DeJoy said the sudden attention has been strange for the team but added that Astronomer has faced many challenges in the past and has always managed to find a solution. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
22-07-2025
- Business
- News18
Video Explain What Does Astronomer Do Uber Ride Andy Byron CEO Coldplay Cheating
Last Updated: Andy Byron, the former CEO of Astronomer, became a viral talking point after being spotted in an intimate moment with Kristin Cabot, the firm's HR chief, during a Coldplay concert. The name Andy Byron has taken over the internet in recent days, but not for reasons a CEO would hope for. Byron, the former CEO of tech company Astronomer, became a viral talking point after being spotted in an intimate moment with Kristin Cabot, the firm's HR chief, during a Coldplay concert in Massachusetts. The two were caught on the kiss cam and panicked when their faces showed up on the big screen. That clip gained massive attention instantly with online sleuths digging up their identities and alleged affair despite both being married. Following the incident, Byron stepped down from his role. With the scandal still trending, many have shifted their curiosity to the company at the center of it all: Astronomer. What does this firm actually do? A recent Instagram video breaks it down with a relatable example: booking an Uber. The video mentioned that when someone books a ride, the location is stored in one system, the driver's details in another and payment information in a third. Despite this, the ride gets confirmed in a matter of seconds. That kind of instant data coordination doesn't just happen on its own. Behind it is a tool called Apache Airflow, which helps manage and streamline data across different systems in a set sequence. But Airflow isn't perfect. The video explains, 'Airflow crashes when servers need updates and requires constant manual fixes." That's where Astronomer steps in. The company has built Astro, a platform that runs on top of Apache Airflow. 'They build Astro on top of Airflow which runs everything in a custom cloud infrastructure with automatic updates, making it 2-3 times faster than those of tech giants," the video shares. It also points out that Astronomer didn't just improve Airflow, they actually control a big part of its development. The company has brought in over 19 of the top code contributors who work directly on Apache Airflow, which gives them an edge in shaping up the software. According to Astronomer's website, 'Astro is a fully managed platform built on Apache Airflow. Astro simplifies the management of Airflow at scale, offering enterprise-grade observability, governance, and security features. With dynamic scaling and integrated cloud services, Astro enables you to focus on building and running workflows, without worrying about infrastructure." Following Byron's resignation, the CEO position has been temporarily taken over by Pete DeJoy. Reacting to the controversy, DeJoy said the sudden attention has been strange for the team but added that Astronomer has faced many challenges in the past and has always managed to find a solution. view comments First Published: July 22, 2025, 12:21 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigns after Coldplay controversy: What exactly does Astronomer do?
credit: instagram In a world increasingly driven by data, the ability to manage and monitor information effectively has become critical, as the data itself. As the center of this transformative initiative stands Astronomer, a U.S. -based technology company making waves for its cutting-edge contributions to DataOps practice of streamlining and automating data workflows. While it recently grabbed the headlines of every platform due to its viral moment involving its former CEO at a Coldplay concert, the company's true claim to fame lies in its deep integration with Apache Airflow, the world's leading open-source data orchestration tool. But what exactly does Astronomer do, and why does it matter so much? What is Astronomer? Astronomer was founded back in 2015 and is headquartered in the United States. Astronomer is a tech company that specializes in DataOps solutions and is best known for developing Astro, a cloud-native platform built on Apache Airflow that helps data teams manage complex data pipelines efficiently. With more than 700 enterprise clients, Astronomer is trusted by big companies such as Apple, Uber, Autodesk, and Collibra. Through its services, Astronomer enables data engineers, scientists, and analysts to automate and monitor the flow of data across their systems. What is Apache Airflow? This software is the backbone of Astronomer's platform; it allows for developers to schedule, monitor, and manage workflow using Python scripts, and Astronomer has been the core contributor to Airflow since 2018 and currently leads 100% of its open-source releases. What is the growth and funding structure of this company? Astronomer has been on a significant growth trajectory. In May 2025, it secured $93 million in series D funding, bringing its total capital raised to over $350 million. The round was led by Bain Capital Ventures, with participation from Salesforce Venture, Insight partners, Meritech capital and others. Real-world impact Companies that rely on high-performance data infrastructure need Astronomers assistance in various spheres. Monitor customer behaviour and run analytics in real-time Orchestrate AI/ML model training workflows. Automate ETL (extract, transform, load) Ensure that quality data is being transferred across departments. The recent controversy Andy Byron, Astronomer's ex-CEO, was caught on a 'kiss-cam' moment during a Coldplay concert in July, which led to internal scrutiny and public curiosity. While this moment sparked debate on corporate leadership being in the hands of people such as Andy, it did little to overshadow Astronomer's strong industry position. According to reports, the company continues its operations and client engagements uninterrupted.
Sinar Daily
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sinar Daily
Coldplay's concert viral affair: The scandal that toppled a tech CEO and rocked Astronomer
SHAH ALAM – A jumbotron kiss at a Coldplay concert was supposed to be a fleeting moment of fun. Instead, it ignited one of tech's most bizarre public scandals. A viral video, seen by tens of millions, captured Astronomer Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Andy Byron embracing his company's Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot. Andy Byron has resigned from his position as CEO of Astronomer. Photo: X This triggered allegations of an affair, a corporate investigation and his abrupt resignation. Beyond the drama, few understood what Astronomer actually does, or why it matters to some of the world's biggest companies. What is Astronomer? And why do tech giants use it? Imagine ordering an Uber: your location data, driver info and payment details all live in separate systems. Yet, within seconds, the app connects them to get you a ride. That seamless orchestration is often powered by Apache Airflow, an open-source tool that schedules tasks across different data systems. But Airflow is fragile; it crashes during server updates and needs manual fixes. Astronomer, founded in 2018, built a solution called Astro, a commercial version of Airflow with automatic updates and a faster, more stable infrastructure. It is reportedly two to three times faster than major competitors. Notably, 19 of the top Airflow code contributors work at Astronomer. This means the same people steering the open-source version also build the paid version, essentially letting Astronomer quietly shape the tool that powers global companies. From CEO to viral meme: The Coldplay concert that changed everything On July 16, at a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the stadium camera panned to Byron, 50, cuddling Cabot, 43, from behind. Both are married, but not to each other. When the jumbotron caught them mid-embrace, they immediately recoiled. After the Coldplay video went viral, Megan Kerrigan Byron dropped his surname on Facebook before deactivating her account. Photo: X Coldplay's frontman Chris Martin saw the awkward reaction and quipped to the crowd: 'Either they are having an affair or they are just very shy.' That comment and the moment, went viral. One concertgoer's video racked up over 45 million views on TikTok and spread across platforms like wildfire. Within 48 hours, Byron was placed on leave. By Saturday, July 20, he had resigned. 'Andy Byron has tendered his resignation and the Board of Directors has accepted. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability and recently, that standard was not met,' Astronomer said in a statement. Byron's rocky leadership history resurfaces The kiss cam moment was not Byron's first public controversy. A 2018 report by The Information revealed troubling behavior during his time as Chief Revenue Officer at cybersecurity startup Cybereason. 'Mr Byron would lash out against employees who disagreed with him, including threatening to fire them,' according to a former staff member. 'You could not challenge him,' another ex-employee claimed. Though Byron denied these allegations, saying difficult decisions were necessary for growth, many staff reportedly quit during his tenure. Some allege he replaced them with loyalists from his previous company, Fuze. Silent profiles, deleted accounts and a divorce looming Following the Coldplay video's virality, Byron's wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, reacted swiftly. She removed his last name from her Facebook before deactivating her account entirely. Byron also deleted his LinkedIn profile, as did Cabot. Megan and Byron, who share two children, are now reportedly headed for divorce. Under Massachusetts' 50/50 marital asset laws, family law expert Nancy Chemtob says she could walk away with up to US$35 million, depending on Byron's estimated net worth (US$20M–US$70M). 'The worst thing in this case is the embarrassment factor for the kids. There is going to be a lot of expenses with regard to therapy, getting separate homes and more,' Chemtob said. Cabot's position and silence Cabot joined Astronomer in November 2024, while Byron came on board in July 2023. In a press release at the time of her hiring, Byron praised Cabot's exceptional leadership and deep expertise. She was previously married to Kenneth Thornby, a rum entrepreneur, but they divorced in 2022. Her current marital status is unknown and she has not made any public comment on the matter. The Internet runs wild The viral moment did not stay within tech circles. Brands from Ikea to Tesla to Hulu hijacked the meme. Coldplay's Chris Martin. Photo: X Ikea posted two stuffed animals hugging with the caption: 'Do not get caught without these, HR-approved cuddles.' Tesla joked: 'Taking your loaner Tesla to a Coldplay concert is like cheating. Your car will know.' Frido mattress photoshopped Byron onto their cuddle pillow: 'Bro could have just used our Cuddle Pillow and avoided all that embarrassment.' Even Coldplay joined in, with Martin joking during their next concert on July 19 in Madison, Wisconsin: 'We would like to say hello to some of you in the crowd. How are we going to do that is we are going to use our cameras and put some of you on the big screen. So please, if you have not done your makeup, do your makeup now," he joked and the crowd understood what he meant. What's next for Astronomer? After Byron's resignation, Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy stepped in as interim CEO. DeJoy, who helped build Astronomer into a unicorn startup valued at over US$1 billion, subtly acknowledged the meme's reach. Despite the scandal, Astronomer remains a critical player in the data infrastructure space, powering backend systems for companies that need real-time data syncing, from artificial intelligence (AI) platforms to logistics. Back in May, the company raised US$93 million in funding led by Bain Ventures and Salesforce Ventures, highlighting strong investor belief in its future, no matter who's in the CEO chair. What started as an awkward moment on a jumbotron led to the swift fall of a tech CEO, a viral meme wave, a likely high-stakes divorce and an HR scandal that turned into comedy fodder.
NDTV
20-07-2025
- Business
- NDTV
All About Pete DeJoy, The Interim CEO Of Astronomer After Andy Byron's Resignation
Pete DeJoy has been appointed as the interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Astronomer following Andy Byron's resignation, after a viral video surfaced showing Byron's intimate moment with HR head Kristin Cabot at a Coldplay concert. Mr DeJoy is the co-founder and Chief Product Officer (CPO) of the data infrastructure company. He co-founded the company in 2017 and has played a key role in expanding its data orchestration platform. "I lead Product at Astronomer, working with an incredible team of folks to deliver the world's data via a portfolio of open-source and commercial products," Mr DeJoy wrote on his LinkedIn. "On the open-source side, we are most well-known for being the largest contributor to the Apache Airflow project." "On the commercial side, we deliver a platform designed to run, operate, and scale Airflow for mission-critical workloads," Mr DeJoy stated. He has been with Astronomer for over eight years, serving as vice president of product and later becoming chief product officer in February 2025. DeJoy has been credited with bringing the company's first commercial offerings to market and scaling its product portfolio. Mr DeJoy keeps a low profile about his personal life, but media reports have suggested that he lives in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, with his wife. Mr DeJoy's appointment as interim CEO is temporary as the company is reportedly searching for a permanent replacement. As interim CEO, DeJoy faces the challenge of stabilising the company after the controversy surrounding Byron's resignation and ensuring continuity for Astronomer's customers. I don't know what is worse. Getting caught cheating or getting caught at a Coldplay concert. — Eric Matheny 🎙️ (@ericmmatheny) July 17, 2025 Kiss cam controversy Byron and Cabot were caught on camera at the Coldplay concert on Wednesday in Massachusetts in an awkward clip that quickly went viral, along with rumours of their alleged affair. Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin responded by saying, "either they're having an affair or they're just very shy." Byron resigned, with the company posting a written statement on its LinkedIn profile stating that its leaders "are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met."
