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Time of India
11 hours ago
- 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
11 hours ago
- 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.
India Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Standard not met: What Astronomer said on CEO Andy Byron's Coldplay kiss cam row
Andy Byron, Astronomer CEO who hit global headlines after he was caught cuddling Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot on Coldplay's kiss cam, could not meet standards, the company said, confirming that he has resigned from his post. The duo received massive backlash after a short clip of them at Coldplay's Boston concert went viral. In the video, Cabot is seen wrapped in Byron's arms as the two appear completely immersed in the music, until the kiss cam catches them by surprise. The reaction is immediate: Cabot notices first, followed by Byron, who quickly bends and hides behind the frontman Chris Martin, reacting in real time, joked: "Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy." The moment quickly caught fire online, fuelling speculation - including rumours of an extramarital affair. The dramatic footage surfaced on the internet and became the subject of memes, mockery, criticism and allegations of cheating. In response to the online storm, Astronomer placed Byron on leave and later announced his CEO Andy Byron and HR head Kristin Cabot from Astronomer caught having an affair on the jumbotron at Coldplay's Boston concert Unlimited L's (@unlimited_ls) July 17, 2025'As stated previously, Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding," the company said.'Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met. Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted," Astronomer Byron and Cabot are reportedly married. While Bryon is married to respected educator Megan Kerrigan, Cabot is reportedly married to Privateer Rum CEO Andrew Cabot. According to his LinkedIn profile, Andy Byron held senior leadership roles at companies including Lacework, Cybereason, Fuze, BMC Software, BladeLogic, and VeriCenter before becoming CEO of Astronomer. He is married to Megan Kerrigan Byron, Associate Director at the Bancroft School, and the couple reportedly lives in New York with their two the public backlash, Megan reportedly removed her last name from her Facebook profile before deactivating Cabot serves as Chief People Officer at Astronomer, the company behind Astro, a data orchestration and observability platform built on Apache Airflow.- Ends
Roya News
a day ago
- Business
- Roya News
Astronomer CEO resigns after viral Coldplay 'kiss cam' incident
Andy Byron, CEO of data infrastructure startup Astronomer, has resigned following the viral "kiss cam" incident at a Coldplay concert last Wednesday in the US state of Massachusetts. The jumbotron at Gillette Stadium captured Byron in an embrace with Kristin Cabot, Astronomer's Chief People Officer, prompting Coldplay frontman Chris Martin to quip, "Either they're having an affair, or they're just very shy". The video quickly went viral, amassing over 45 million views on TikTok and millions more across other platforms, leading to widespread online discussion dubbed "ColdplayGate". Astronomer's Board of Directors swiftly accepted Byron's resignation, stating he "failed to meet the company's standards in 'conduct and accountability'". Byron was initially placed on leave on July 18, with his resignation confirmed the following day. Pete DeJoy, cofounder and Chief Product Officer, has been appointed interim CEO. The scandal resurfaced allegations of a "toxic" work environment under Byron's leadership, both at Astronomer and from his previous role as Chief Revenue Officer at Cybereason between 2017 and 2019. Former employees described him as a boss who would "lash out against employees who disagreed with him". Astronomer, valued at approximately $740 million after its Series D funding round in May 2025, or $1.3 billion , emphasized its commitment to business continuity. The company stated, "While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not," reaffirming its focus on its Astro platform and DataOps capabilities.
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Astronomer CEO Andy Byron resigns after Coldplay kiss cam clip with HR head Kristin Cabot
Andy Byron has resigned as CEO of Astronomer, a US-based AI and data platform company, after a viral video showed him embracing colleague Kristin Cabot at a Coldplay concert. The clip sparked online speculation, especially after it was revealed both are married to other people. Byron was placed on leave before his resignation was formally accepted. Cabot's job status remains unclear. The firm says its operations continue unchanged and that it remains committed to its stated values. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Coldplay moment Speculation and silence Leadership vacuum and online reaction Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Where the company stands now Andy Byron, chief executive of Astronomer Inc. , has resigned following widespread backlash from a viral video taken at a Coldplay concert. In the footage, Byron was seen closely embracing the company's Chief People Officer, Kristin Cabot . Both are married. The company confirmed his resignation in a public statement released on Saturday.'Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding,' the company wrote on LinkedIn. 'Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met. Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted. 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.'The incident and its fallout have placed Astronomer in an unrelenting media spotlight. The company, known for its Astro platform built on Apache Airflow , insists its product and client work remain unaffected.'While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not. We're continuing to do what we do best: helping our customers with their toughest data and AI problems,' the company story began on Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. During a Coldplay concert, Byron and Cabot appeared on the venue's kiss cam. As the camera panned to them, the pair were seen hugging. Byron quickly ducked out of frame and Cabot spun around, covering her face with her lead singer Chris Martin, noticing the pair on screen, commented to the crowd, 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy.' That single line lit the clip spread rapidly across social media. Within hours, online users had identified the pair through their professional profiles. The clip didn't just spark gossip — it brought with it Thursday, both Byron and Cabot had been placed on administrative leave. Astronomer responded swiftly, releasing a statement reiterating its commitment to accountability: 'The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter, and we will have additional details to share very shortly.'Neither Byron nor Cabot has issued any public comment since the incident. What fuelled the public interest further was that both hold senior roles and are publicly known to be married. Byron's wife is marketing professional Megan Kerrigan, while Cabot is married to Andrew Cabot, CEO of Privateer company spokesperson confirmed that only the two individuals involved were employees of Astronomer. However, when asked specifically about Cabot's job status, the spokesperson declined to comment. As of now, she remains on leave, and no decision has been did clarify that online rumours wrongly identified the woman in the video as Vice President of Human Resources Alyssa Stoddard. The woman shown was in fact Kristin had only been CEO of Astronomer since July 2023. Cabot joined in November 2024 as Chief People Officer, overseeing the company's HR and workplace culture functions. Both were considered central to the company's recent restructuring and the days since the video went viral, Astronomer's social media has been flooded with comments and speculation, including demands for Cabot's resignation.'I wonder if Kristin Cabot will also resign,' one user posted on X (formerly Twitter). Another wrote, 'You'd have to think that Kristin Cabot will resign or be terminated also. My heart goes out to Megan Kerrigan and her two teen sons. The fallout of this date is devastatingly wild.'The board has not commented publicly on whether further action is the storm, Astronomer has made clear it's not changing course. In its public communications, the company has focused on distancing its work from the controversy and doubling down on its mission in the data and AI DeJoy, now interim CEO, is expected to lead while the board conducts its executive search. No timeline has been provided for when a permanent CEO will be internal investigation is still now, Astronomer appears determined to close the chapter and return focus to its product. Whether the public and its clients see it the same way remains to be seen.(With inputs from Reuters)
