Astronomer Co-Founder Speaks Out on Controversy Involving Former CEO and HR Chief
Astronomer’s co-founder, Ry Walker, has publicly addressed the growing controversy surrounding the company’s former CEO and head of human resources. The situation came to light after footage surfaced showing Andy Byron, the former CEO, and Kristin Cabot, the head of HR, appearing close during a Coldplay concert. The incident took place on the venue’s kiss cam, sparking widespread discussion and scrutiny.
Walker, who co-founded the New York-based data company in 2015, shared his perspective on X (formerly Twitter) following the release of the video. He stated that he had only spoken to Byron once, during a call, and described him as professional. Walker also noted that everyone on the team had praised Byron’s leadership. “This is an unfortunate development that comes as a big surprise,” he wrote.
Background on Ry Walker and His Role at Astronomer
Walker led Astronomer as CEO from 2015 until 2019, when the company began to gain significant traction. Although he remained on the board for several years, he stepped away from active involvement in 2022 and now works at Tembo, a separate venture. Byron took over as CEO in 2023, while Cabot joined the company’s human resources department in 2024. At the time of her hiring, Byron praised her “exceptional leadership” in a press release, and Cabot expressed excitement about new opportunities at the company.
The current controversy escalated after concertgoer Grace Springer posted a video showing Chris Martin of Coldplay encouraging the audience to look at the couple captured on the kiss cam. The clip shows Byron and Cabot sitting close before quickly pulling apart upon realizing they were on the big screen. False quotes have also circulated online, including one falsely attributed to Byron apologizing for his “inexcusable” love of Coldplay. As the story gained momentum, Byron’s wife, Megan Kerrigan, quietly deleted her Facebook account.
Company Response and Leadership Changes
Earlier on Saturday, Astronomer announced that Byron had resigned. The company issued a statement saying, “Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted. The Board will begin a search for our next Chief Executive as Cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy continues to serve as interim CEO.”
The statement emphasized that the company was known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI. “While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not,” the statement noted. It added, “We’re continuing to do what we do best: helping our customers with their toughest data and AI problems. Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.”
Ongoing Implications for the Company
The fallout from this incident has raised questions about leadership and corporate culture at Astronomer. While the company has taken steps to address the situation, the impact on its reputation and operations remains to be seen. The transition to an interim CEO and the ongoing search for a new leader will likely play a crucial role in shaping the company’s future direction.
As the story continues to unfold, stakeholders and industry observers will be watching closely to see how Astronomer navigates this challenging period. The company’s commitment to its core values and its ability to maintain focus on its mission will be key factors in determining its long-term success.