The chief executive of a US technology firm has resigned following the circulation of a viral video showing him embracing a female colleague at a Coldplay concert.
Astronomer, a New York-based data platform company, confirmed the resignation of CEO Andy Byron in a statement on Saturday, “Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted.”
The incident occurred during a Coldplay performance at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. A short clip showed a man and a woman swaying to the music and hugging before quickly ducking when they appeared on the venue’s jumbo screen.
The pair were identified as Byron, who is married, and Kristin Cabot, Astronomer’s chief people officer.
The moment was further amplified when Coldplay frontman Chris Martin commented from the stage, “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy.”
The light-hearted remark added fuel to speculation online, as the clip rapidly gained millions of views across social media platforms.
In the days that followed, Astronomer placed Mr Byron on leave and launched an internal investigation into the relationship.
The company’s statement read, “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.”
Astronomer said its board has now begun the search for a new chief executive, with the company’s chief product officer currently serving as interim CEO.
The incident has prompted widespread online debate around workplace relationships, privacy in public spaces, and executive conduct in the age of viral content.
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