US Tech CEO Quits After Romantic Hug with Female Co-Worker

A top US tech executive has resigned after a video of him hugging a female co-worker at a Coldplay concert went viral online.

Andy Byron, the CEO of data technology company Astronomer, stepped down following the incident, which occurred at a concert in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The video showed a man and woman warmly embracing on the arena’s jumbo screen before quickly ducking out of view once they noticed they were being filmed.

The clip quickly spread across social media, drawing attention from news outlets and sparking widespread speculation about the people involved.

US media later identified the pair as Andy Byron, who is married, and Kristin Cabot, the company’s Chief People Officer. However, the BBC says it has not been able to independently confirm their identities in the video.

In a public statement, Astronomer confirmed Byron’s resignation: “Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted.” The company did not give further details about the situation or mention Ms. Cabot’s status.

The incident has raised questions about workplace relationships, public image, and leadership accountability. It also highlights how private moments can quickly become public in the digital age—especially when captured on large screens or by smartphones.

Astronomer, which provides data infrastructure services, has not yet announced a replacement for Byron. The company now faces the task of managing both internal and external responses to the unexpected leadership change.

The company statement said on Saturday: “As stated previously, 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.”

The New York-based firm said its board would begin a search for the next leader and their chief product officer would keep serving as interim CEO.

The video of the pair swaying to music at Wednesday night’s concert and quickly trying to hide gained millions of views.

After seeing the pair duck, Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin said to the crowd: “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy.”

Astronomer announced it was launching an investigation into the relationship and placed the CEO on leave shortly after the video went viral.

Source: BBC