In a dramatic shake-up at Astronomer, CEO Andy Byron has officially stepped down following public backlash over a scandal that surfaced earlier this month. The resignation comes just days after footage went viral showing Byron in a compromising situation with Kristin Cabot, the company’s Chief of Human Resources, at a Coldplay concert.
The video, reportedly captured by an attendee at the Gillette Stadium event, shows the two executives in an intimate moment during the show — sparking immediate outrage on social media and triggering internal reviews at the billion-dollar data software firm.
While Byron’s resignation was announced swiftly, Kristin Cabot has not stepped down — raising questions internally and externally.
So why the disparity in outcomes?
According to internal sources, Byron, as the highest-ranking executive, was held to a stricter standard of conduct. The board considered his position of influence, the damage to company reputation, and potential violations of internal ethics policies.
Cabot, on the other hand, remains in her role for now. Astronomer’s leadership has stated that she is not under formal investigation, and her actions — while unprofessional — may not have breached company policy in the same way.
Critics argue that this response reflects inconsistency in accountability, especially given her role as Head of HR, the department responsible for upholding workplace standards.
Supporters of Cabot claim she is being unfairly singled out due to gender bias, and note that consensual relationships between executives are not explicitly forbidden at Astronomer — though they are discouraged.
The company has yet to release a detailed statement explaining the decision, citing the privacy of employees and the need for an impartial review process.
As of now, Andy Byron has left the company, and Kristin Cabot continues in her role. The incident has sparked broader conversations about corporate ethics, power dynamics in the workplace, and the role of transparency in leadership.
Astronomer’s board has promised a full review of its code of conduct and executive behavior policies in the coming weeks.
This may not be the end of the story — but for now, the CEO is out, and HR is under scrutiny.
