Who is Pete DeJoy? All about Astronomer's interim CEO as company puts Andy Byron on leave following Coldplay cheating scandal

Co-founder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy has assumed the role of interim CEO. Astronomer’s board placed its CEO, Andy Byron, on leave after a “kiss-cam” clip from a Coldplay concert went viral.

The video, filmed at Gillette Stadium on July 16, shows Byron and the company’s head of HR, Kristin Cabot, caught in a romantic embrace on the jumbotron. Frontman Chris Martin quipped.

“Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy,”

This fueled millions of online views and sparked intense media scrutiny.

Pete DeJoy steps in as interim CEO after Byron’s leave

A spokesperson confirmed that Pete DeJoy

“is currently serving as interim CEO given Andy Byron has been placed on leave,”

Emphasizing the board’s swift move to keep operations steady. DeJoy will oversee day-to-day decisions, act as the public face of Astronomer, and work closely with the board while the formal investigation continues.

Although he has not yet issued a personal statement, the company’s LinkedIn post under his interim leadership reaffirmed,

“Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding,” adding that more details will follow “very shortly”.

Pete DeJoy’s role at Astronomer grew from product to leadership

Pete DeJoy co-founded Astronomer with Andy Byron in 2018 and initially led its product vision. His LinkedIn profile notes that in his first five years, he

“did whatever it took to bring the first incarnations of our commercial offerings to market and build our business,”

Balancing product development with stints in sales, engineering, and corporate strategy.

That “zero-to-one” phase laid the groundwork for Astronomer’s platform, which helps data teams deploy AI-driven analytics pipelines. His deep understanding of both the technology and the market made him a natural pick to guide the company through this unexpected leadership gap.

Pete DeJoy’s early words reflect a hands-on approach to challenges

Although most recent quotes come from Astronomer’s official channels, DeJoy’s past remarks illustrate his style. On LinkedIn two months ago, he celebrated the launch of Apache Airflow 3, writing:

“After over a year of hard work, Airflow 3 is finally here, and it’s a big one. Having been working in and around the Airflow community for eight years, this is a major moment for the project,” he said,

Highlighting his long-term commitment to open-source collaboration. This hands-on, team-focused tone offers a glimpse of how he may address staff, investors, and customers during the interim period.

Company statement under Pete DeJoy’s interim leadership highlights accountability

In the statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Astronomer wrote:

“Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability. The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly,”

Highlighting that, under DeJoy’s watch, the firm still prioritizes its founding values of transparency and ethical behavior. This message also clarified that no other employees were involved in the concert incident and debunked several fake statements circulating online.

Investigation will determine next steps for the company’s leaders

The board’s investigation aims to review whether any internal policies were violated and to decide Byron’s and Cabot’s futures. Both remain on leave pending the outcome.

Meanwhile, Pete DeJoy’s interim role will include assuring clients that product roadmaps and support services continue without interruption. Industry observers note that founder-turned-interim-CEO moves like this often signal a desire for continuity and a chance to reset internal culture before naming a permanent successor.

Stability and clarity are top priorities for Astronomer now

For employees, customers, and investors, the next few weeks will be a test of Astronomer’s resilience. Pete DeJoy must balance investigating board directives with maintaining momentum on product launches and partnerships.

Given his deep roots in the company and prior statements about teamwork and accountability, many inside Astronomer see him as a steady hand during this sensitive period.

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