And the Chief Executive Officer of one of these rising New York-based data companies, Astronomer’s Andy Byron, has resigned. His resignation follows a hugely shared clip of a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium in Boston on July 16. This short video has sparked global outrage, exasperation, cynicism, and curiosity on the internet. The Board of Directors of Astronomer formally accepted Byron’s resignation.
The short video, which went viral almost immediately on social media, and helped with media coverage afterward, named the person in the incident as Andy Byron. What exactly happened in the incident is still unclear. The Board of Directors moved to put him on leave and start a formal investigation. The company has promised to share more about what happened as soon as it makes sense to do so in the coming days.
In an announcement shared on LinkedIn, Astronomer confirmed Byron’s departure, stating, “Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted.” The board further stressed its desire to stay true to the company’s values and corporate culture that have been central since its establishment.
Astronomer also doubled down in its expectations for leadership behavior and accountability. “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability,” the company stated in its communications regarding the incident.
Though the events as they unfold have been challenging, Astronomer continues to focus on its mission. “We’re continuing to do what we do best: helping our customers with their toughest data and AI problems,” the company remarked.
Byron has not provided any public explanation for his resignation. He similarly has not articulated the situation, the context, the background that brought about this decision. The conduct has led to discussion about corporate governance and the cost of public behavior to the business community’s leaders.
