U.S. CEO World in Turmoil Over Astronomer Scandal: Former Employees Expose Affair and Toxic Workplace as CEO Faces Potential Ouster

Andy Byron has served as CEO of Astronomer—a DataOps startup valued at around $1 billion—since July 2023. Prior to joining Astronomer, he held leadership roles in tech companies such as Lacework, Cybereason (CRO), Fuze, and BMC Software. His personal net worth is estimated between $20–70 million, largely from equity in Astronomer and previous ventures.

Known for his discreet lifestyle, Andy Byron lives in New York with his wife, Megan Kerrigan Byron, and their two children. But what appeared to be a peaceful family life quickly unraveled after Megan—an associate director at Bancroft School—removed “Byron” from her Facebook name and later deactivated her account following a viral cheating scandal involving her husband at a Coldplay concert.

The incident occurred on July 16, 2025, during Coldplay’s concert in Boston. In a “Kiss Cam” segment, cameras captured Andy Byron embracing Kristin Cabot—Astronomer’s head of HR, who joined the company in late 2024. The video spread like wildfire on TikTok and X, drawing millions of views and sparking heated discussions about “infidelity” and “inappropriate office relationships.” Although neither party has publicly confirmed a romantic relationship, both appeared visibly flustered and evasive when approached by reporters.

Astronomer has yet to issue an official statement regarding the scandal, and Byron has either deleted or locked down his LinkedIn profile.

Following the incident, several former employees have come forward with serious allegations, portraying Byron as a domineering and high-pressure leader. They claim he frequently yelled at staff in public, used offensive language, and even threatened to “fire entire departments” if performance targets weren’t met.

Speaking with the press, some former team members expressed little surprise at Byron’s alleged involvement in a romantic entanglement at the Coldplay event. They suggested that his public downfall is “well-deserved,” given how he allegedly treated employees. Still, Byron’s extensive experience, strong track record, and considerable earnings remain undisputed.

The scandal has now thrust Byron’s personal life under a harsh spotlight. While the long-term consequences remain unclear, the incident has already damaged his personal reputation and may affect Astronomer’s internal culture—especially given that both parties involved are top executives, with one responsible for maintaining company-wide HR policies.

In an age where a CEO’s image extends far beyond the office walls, every off-duty moment can reverberate throughout an entire company. For Andy Byron, head of a billion-dollar startup, it’s likely he never imagined a single recorded moment at a concert could plunge his company into a complex internal cultural crisis.

What makes this scandal particularly troubling to industry observers is the significant power imbalance between the two individuals. One has authority to hire and fire; the other is tasked with upholding workplace fairness. Even if the relationship was consensual, the damage is done—the company’s internal trust may be shattered. Employees are now asking: “Was this the real reason she got hired or promoted?”

It’s no surprise the tech community—which has grown increasingly sensitive to ethics and power dynamics—is calling this a textbook example of workplace misconduct. From a governance perspective, any romantic involvement between two senior leaders should be disclosed and handled through independent channels. Yet sources say Astronomer lacks a clear policy on inter-leadership relationships and has no independent reporting system outside of its HR department. That leaves the company completely unprepared in the face of scandal—no protocol for crisis, no way to protect staff.

What started as an off-hours moment may now spiral into serious legal risks. First, there’s the threat of shareholder lawsuits if evidence emerges that Kristin Cabot received preferential treatment due to a personal relationship. Then come concerns about a hostile or unfair work environment—employees could claim they no longer trust HR to act in good faith.

To complicate matters, both Byron and Cabot reportedly hold substantial equity in Astronomer. The company is currently in an expansion phase and seeking new funding rounds. Mishandling a personal scandal like this could spook investors or lead them to demand new leadership—a fate not uncommon among major Silicon Valley startups.

Zooming out, Astronomer’s unfolding crisis serves as a vivid reminder of the “blurred ethical boundaries” plaguing many tech startups—where flat hierarchies and flexible work cultures are sometimes misinterpreted as a license to act without accountability. This incident doesn’t just expose a personal misstep; it highlights how many tech firms still lack solid procedures for dealing with the human side of business—something technology alone can’t solve.