A married tech CEO is under fire after being caught at a Coldplay concert embracing a co-worker, his HR chief. The two were shown on screen for the whole audience to see during a kiss cam segment.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night during a concert at Gillette Stadium near Boston. When the camera turned to the duo, identified as Astronomer CEO Andy Byron and the firm’s chief human resources officer, Kristin Cabot, they rushed to hide their faces.
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin mused to the audience, "Oh, what? Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy."
Byron has since issued a statement. "I want to acknowledge the moment that’s been circulating online, and the disappointment it’s caused. What was supposed to be a night of music and joy turned into a deeply personal mistake playing out on a very public stage."
"I want to sincerely apologize to my wife, my family, and the team at Astronomer. You deserve better from me as a partner, as a father, and as a leader. This is not who I want to be or how I want to represent the company I helped build. I’m taking time to reflect, to take accountability, and to figure out the next steps, personally and professionally. I ask for privacy as I navigate that process."
"I also want to express how troubling it is that what should have been a private moment became public without my consent. I respect artists and entertainers, but I hope we cal all think more deeply about the impact of turning someone else’s life into a spectacle," he wrote, closing with a line from the band’s hit Fix You.
When Cabot joined the company in November 2024, Byron wrote, "At Astronomer, our people are the most valuable asset in helping our customers do more to gain a competitive advantage with their data. Kristin’s exceptional leadership and deep expertise in talent management, employee engagement, and scaling people strategies will be critical as we continue our rapid trajectory. She is a proven leader at multiple growth-stage companies and her passion for fostering diverse, collaborative workplaces makes her a perfect fit for Astronomer."
Cabot said, "There are plenty of companies out there where a leadership team doesn’t recognize the value that a strong people leader and people team can bring to a company. It’s not just about benefits or catered lunches. There’s so much more to it, and I was energized in my conversations with Andy and the Astronomer leadership team about the opportunities that exist here."
Per the New York Post, a woman who is reportedly Byron’s wife dropped his last name on Facebook Thursday before deleting her account, as well as her Instagram, altogether. Social media users identified the wife as Megan Kerrigan Byron.
