The tech CEO at the centre of a viral video from a Coldplay concert has been placed on leave, his firm has confirmed.
Andy Byron, head of the data infrastructure company Astronomer, was spotted cuddling a woman, identified as his colleague and Chief People Officer Kirstin Cabot, at the British pop-rock group’s gig in Boston on Wednesday.
The moment has captured internet viewers and social media users.
When they saw themselves on the big screen, the pair quickly separated and attempted to hide their faces, with Byron ducking down and the woman turning her back to the camera.
“Whoa, look at these two,” Coldplay singer Chris Martin said. “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”
In another clip circulating social media, the musician can be heard saying: “Did we rumble you? Holy s***. I hope we didn’t do something bad.”
Now in a statement posted on LinkedIn, Astronomer has announced that Mr Byron has been “placed on leave” with a new interim CEO put in place.
The company added: “We will share more details as appropriate in the coming days.”
The initial video quickly went viral on social media, leading many to speculate on Byron’s relationship status, while the CEO’s wife reportedly removed the Byron surname from her Facebook account before later deleting it.
Astronomer had already issued a statement saying it was investigating the incident.
“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.
“The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter, and we will have additional details to share very shortly,” the company posted on LinkedIn.
They also said a third woman in the video, who was seen looking slightly embarrassed by the gaffe, was not an Astronomer employee as some on social media had speculated.
Astronomer has seen rapid growth since Byron became CEO in 2023, and the firm is now valued at over $1bn (£750m).
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
