HR Chief at Astronomer Resigns After Viral ‘Kiss Cam’ Moment with CEO Sparks Backlash
Just days after Astronomer CEO Andy Byron stepped down, the company’s top HR executive, Kristin Cabot, has also resigned following a widely circulated incident at a Coldplay concert.
“Kristin Cabot is no longer with the company,” a spokesperson confirmed in a Thursday email. Cabot served as Astronomer’s Chief People Officer.
The controversy erupted after concertgoers in Boston captured Cabot and Byron—who is married with children—sharing a seemingly intimate moment on the venue’s “kiss cam.” The pair quickly ducked out of view when they saw themselves projected on the big screen. Coldplay’s frontman Chris Martin even commented, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.” The footage quickly went viral online.
Byron resigned last Saturday, and both he and Cabot have since been removed from the company’s leadership page.
Interim CEO Pete DeJoy acknowledged the unexpected media spotlight in a recent post, stating that the viral moment had unexpectedly put Astronomer in the national spotlight.
Despite the controversy, the company has been riding a wave of growth. In May, Astronomer—known for its work in commercializing open-source software—secured a $93 million funding round led by Bain Ventures, with participation from Salesforce Ventures and other investors.
