Astronomer CEO resigns after kiss cam scandal — Pete DeJoy steps in

Andy Byron, CEO of the data orchestration startup Astronomer, has stepped down following a viral video incident at a Coldplay concert that raised questions around leadership ethics and workplace relationships. The company has appointed Pete DeJoy as interim CEO, tasking him with stabilising operations amid growing scrutiny.

The now-infamous video — which showed Byron and Astronomer’s Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot appearing on a “kiss cam” during the concert — quickly spread on social media, sparking debates around power imbalance and executive accountability. While neither executive publicly commented on the relationship, backlash from employees and observers prompted internal discussions, culminating in Byron’s resignation on Friday.

Astronomer confirmed the leadership transition in a statement to TechCrunch, thanking Byron for his tenure and reaffirming the company’s commitment to “a respectful and transparent workplace.” Kristin Cabot remains in her role as of this writing.

Who Is Pete DeJoy?

With Byron stepping down, Astronomer has turned to one of its internal leaders to guide the company forward. Pete DeJoy, who had been serving as Chief Operating Officer, is now interim CEO.

DeJoy is no stranger to Astronomer’s mission. He previously led product and strategy for Apache Airflow, the open-source platform that forms the backbone of Astronomer’s business. His deep operational background and engineering experience have made him a key figure in the company’s growth, particularly as it expanded enterprise offerings and scaled its cloud platform.

Before joining Astronomer, DeJoy worked at Segment and Trifacta, where he focused on data infrastructure and developer tooling. On his LinkedIn profile, he describes himself as someone “passionate about building scalable systems and strong teams.” Colleagues often refer to him as a thoughtful operator and internal stabiliser — traits now critical as the startup navigates a reputational crisis.

The Fallout: Ethics, Culture, and the Kiss Cam Moment

The Coldplay kiss cam moment may have seemed trivial to some, but it ignited a larger discussion within the tech world around executive conduct and how companies handle personal relationships at work — especially when they involve people leaders.

Given Cabot’s role as Chief People Officer, concerns around conflict of interest, perceived favouritism, and ethical oversight were amplified. While workplace relationships between consenting adults aren’t inherently inappropriate, experts warn that power asymmetries — particularly when tied to HR or executive functions — can undermine employee trust.

“Even in the absence of a formal violation, the optics matter,” said Dr. Richa Mehta, a workplace ethics researcher at NYU, in an interview with Bloomberg. “When people see leaders involved romantically — especially at public events — it sends confusing signals about boundaries, accountability, and what’s acceptable.”

As more companies grapple with blurring lines between personal and professional conduct, especially in hybrid and remote-first settings, incidents like this one serve as case studies for HR leaders. The question isn’t just about policy — it’s about perception, culture, and how quickly leadership responds.

Byron’s resignation may mark the end of a specific controversy, but for Astronomer and companies like it, the long-term challenge remains: building cultures that combine innovation with accountability — and ensuring leadership sets the tone.