Andy Byron, CEO of data orchestration company Astronomer, has been placed on administrative leave amid a viral controversy involving Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot. The incident, captured at a Coldplay concert, sparked widespread online attention, but the real consequences may be playing out in the boardroom.
Astronomer had recently announced a $93 million Series C funding round led by Bain Capital Ventures, with participation from Salesforce Ventures, Venrock, and Meritech Capital. Public estimates place the company’s valuation between $740 million and $1.3 billion.
While Astronomer has not publicly commented on investor sentiment, conversations online and in tech circles have turned toward the potential impact on funding, reputation, and leadership stability.
On prediction market Polymarket, over $750,000 was wagered on whether Byron would step down, reflecting broader public speculation.
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In a formal LinkedIn statement, Astronomer confirmed that its board had initiated an internal investigation and reaffirmed its commitment to company values and professional conduct.
The post emphasized that no other employees were involved, specifically naming VP of People Alyssa Stoddard, and denied reports that Byron had issued a personal statement.
Shortly after, co-founder Pete DeJoy was announced as interim CEO.
The original video clip, which appeared to show Byron and Cabot in an intimate moment fueled waves of social media commentary, parody merchandise, and scrutiny of workplace ethics in tech startups.
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