Specifically, Andy Byron, Astronomer’s CEO, has resigned. His resignation comes after a scandal which includes allegations of a cover-up of an affair at a Coldplay concert. The event attracted national attention when a bystander filmed the armed escort. It took off like wildfire, starring Byron with his arms draped around Kristin Cabot, the company’s chief people officer.
The incident occurred at a recent Coldplay concert where frontman Chris Martin jokingly remarked, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.” As the newlyweds came onscreen, one comment stood out to everyone. When Byron had the presence of mind to duck out of camera shot, that fueled further speculation about their relationship.
Byron, a devoutly Christian, married man with five children, endured swift backlash in the hours after the video’s release. In reaction to the public concern, the Astronomer ordered an official inquiry. Throughout the investigation, Byron was put on administrative leave.
As the news of the situation became public, Astronomer’s Board of Directors accepted Byron’s resignation. Her resignation marks a huge loss for the company and signals a sea change. Its past success was attributed to being a leader in the DataOps space. An official statement from Astronomer noted, “Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI.”
Their struggle takes place against the backdrop of the Astronomer’s big $93 million investment round announcement. This round, mostly led by Bain Ventures, including Salesforce Ventures and other known industry players. This funding will allow for the company’s continued expansion and strengthen their commitment to innovation in data technology. It arrives in response to the recent chaos around its leadership.