New Astronomer CEO Pete DeJoy, who replaced Andy Byron – the Coldplay fan caught up in the cheating scandal – has acknowledged the extraordinary media scrutiny facing the data technology firm.
The new chief executive described the attention as “unusual and surreal” for staff members at the startup, which operates in the data and artificial intelligence sector.
In a LinkedIn post on Monday, DeJoy recognised that the company had experienced unprecedented publicity levels rarely seen by technology startups.
He noted that whilst the circumstances leading to this attention were not ideal, the firm had become widely recognised as a result.
DeJoy expressed his dedication to supporting employees and fulfilling commitments to clients.
The executive detailed specific hurdles the firm had conquered previously, including establishing a software enterprise in Ohio and surviving the failure of their banking institution, which held their entire cash reserves.
He also referenced the company’s expansion from 30 to 300 employees during the coronavirus pandemic, achieved entirely through remote working arrangements.
“We’re here because Astronomer is built by people who live to solve hard problems, stay late to fix what’s broken, and care deeply about doing things the right way,” DeJoy stated.
He added that client confidence in their data and AI initiatives remained paramount, emphasising that “the mission is bigger than any one moment.”
The leadership change follows an incident at a Coldplay performance in Boston, Massachusetts, last Wednesday.
Former chief executive Byron and Kristin Cabot, the company’s human resources director, were captured on the venue’s kiss cam during the concert at Gillette Stadium.
Video footage showed Byron attempting to move away from view whilst Cabot turned away and shielded her face with her hand.
The pair’s reaction prompted Coldplay frontman Chris Martin to quip that they were “either having an affair or just very shy.”
Both executives are understood to be married to other people. The footage rapidly spread across social media platforms, drawing widespread attention to the technology firm.
Byron had served as chief executive since July 2023. The company, valued at over £1 billion, has not commented on Cabot’s position within the organisation.
Astronomer has confirmed DeJoy’s transition from interim to permanent chief executive following Byron’s departure on Saturday.
The appointment comes after the company initiated an investigation into the concert incident and placed Byron on administrative leave.
DeJoy, who co-founded the company and previously served as chief product officer, initially assumed temporary leadership duties before his permanent appointment was announced.
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In his LinkedIn announcement, he pledged “wholehearted commitment to taking care of our people and delivering for our customers.”
The executive acknowledged the company’s strong foundation built around the Apache Airflow community and highlighted significant opportunities in developing a DataOps platform for artificial intelligence applications. He assured stakeholders that Astronomer’s story continues to unfold despite recent events.