By Tendai Guvamombe
Global markets saw mixed results today, with the DOW inching up 0.32% to 44,342.19 and the NASDAQ gaining 0.05% to 20,895.66. The S&P 500 remained relatively flat at 6,296.79, up a mere 0.01%.
This comes as the business world reacts to the resignation of Astronomer CEO Andy Byron, following a viral incident at a Coldplay concert.Byron’s resignation was confirmed in a statement by the New York-based tech company on Saturday.
The move follows widespread attention to a video showing Byron embracing Kristin Cabot, the company’s Chief People Officer, on the “kiss cam” at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The pair quickly ducked out of view after appearing on screen.
Astronomer’s board of directors has accepted Byron’s resignation and immediately initiated a search for a new chief executive. Pete DeJoy, co-founder and chief product officer, has been appointed interim CEO.
The company addressed the incident, stating, “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met.” They also clarified that any alleged statements from Byron circulating online were incorrect.
While the incident has certainly brought unexpected attention to Astronomer, the data operations company, founded in 2018, affirmed its commitment to its core mission of addressing data and artificial intelligence problems.
Byron’s LinkedIn profile is no longer public, and he has been removed from the company’s leadership page, though he remains listed as a board member.This event unfolded amidst other notable news, including a massive fire destroying Tomorrowland’s main stage in Belgium, and reports of the Obamas addressing divorce rumors on Michelle’s podcast.
