A US technology firm has announced the resignation of its chief executive, following the circulation of a viral video purportedly showing him embracing a female colleague on a large screen at a Coldplay concert.
Astronomer confirmed in a statement that “Andy Byron has tendered his resignation, and the Board of Directors has accepted it.”
The video in question captured a man and a woman embracing on a jumbo screen at the concert venue in Foxborough, Massachusetts, before they seemingly attempted to conceal themselves from the camera.
US media outlets have identified the individuals as Mr. Byron, the married CEO of Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the company’s chief people officer. The BBC has not independently verified the identities of the individuals in the video.
The company’s statement, released on Saturday, emphasized: “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.”
The New York-based company stated that its board of directors will initiate a search for a new CEO, with the current chief product officer continuing to serve as interim CEO.
The video, which depicted the pair dancing and subsequently attempting to hide at the Wednesday night concert, has garnered millions of views across social media platforms.
Upon witnessing the pair’s reaction, Coldplay’s lead singer, Chris Martin, remarked to the audience: “Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy.”
Following the video’s widespread circulation, Astronomer announced an internal investigation into the matter and placed Mr. Byron on leave.
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