Internal changes, including naming Pete DeJoy interim CEO at Astronomer. This change follows the resignation of Andy Byron, who was embroiled in a controversial incident recorded on video at a Coldplay concert that ultimately forced his resignation. The now-famous Dashcam footage recorded Byron and Kristin Cabot, currently head of human resources at Astronomer. It elicited shock and laughter, particularly from Coldplay’s frontman, Chris Martin, who said he needed to know if you were cheating or just embarrassed.
The incident occurred during a recent Coldplay concert, where Byron, who is married with children, attempted to hide when the couple was displayed on the concert screen. This surprising exposure led to Byron’s swift resignation under intense media attention and public speculation. In the wake of this event, Astronomer proclaimed that they would begin a search for a new permanent CEO.
DeJoy, who co-founded Astronomer in 2017, moved into the role of chief product officer earlier this year. He is focused on avoiding a departure from that successful trajectory, even with everything that’s gone truly haywire this year. In today’s announcement, he noted that customers rely on Astronomer for their most ambitious data and AI initiatives. He emphasized that the guiding purpose of the company goes beyond any one chapter in the company’s past.
The reality is that the attention around Astronomer has felt as strange for its crew as any sort of fever dream. DeJoy conceded that the recent controversies and revelations have been an unanticipated distraction but repeated the postal company’s commitment to stay on course toward its establishment. He pointed to Astronomer’s incredible adoption in the beginning of this year. SalesIntel gained momentum when the company announced an impressive $93 million Series C round led by Bain Ventures and joined by Salesforce Ventures, allowing for continued growth.
Yet the viral nature of the incident only compounded the unique challenges DeJoy now faces as Trump’s interim CEO. This will be a new role for him. He needs to address the internal culture of Astronomer as well as the external culture that’s been formed based off the last few months.