Who Is Pete DeJoy? Astronomer’s New Interim CEO
Cincinnati, OH – July 22, 2025
Pete DeJoy has stepped into the spotlight as the interim CEO of Astronomer, a Cincinnati-based data orchestration company, following the resignation of former CEO Andy Byron on July 19, 2025. Byron’s exit came after a viral “kiss cam” incident at a Coldplay concert in Boston, where he was filmed in an intimate moment with the company’s head of human resources, Kristin Cabot, prompting widespread media attention and internal scrutiny. DeJoy, a co-founder and the company’s chief product officer, was appointed to lead Astronomer through this turbulent period.
Background and Role at Astronomer
Pete DeJoy co-founded Astronomer in 2017 and has been a pivotal figure in shaping its data orchestration platform, notably its commercialization of the open-source Apache Airflow project. He served as vice president of product from January 2023 and was promoted to chief product officer in February 2025. According to his LinkedIn profile, DeJoy played a key role in bringing Astronomer’s initial commercial offerings to market, stating he “did whatever it took” to build the business. His leadership in product development has been credited with expanding the company’s platform, which supports mission-critical data pipelines for analytics and AI industries.
Education and Early Career
DeJoy holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and physics from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, where he developed a data-driven and analytical approach to problem-solving. He also participated in a Venture for America fellowship, a program designed to give recent graduates hands-on startup experience. Born in 1994 in Bronxville, New York, DeJoy has maintained a low public profile, focusing on his professional contributions rather than personal publicity.
Interim CEO Role and Company Response
DeJoy assumed the interim CEO position on July 19, 2025, after Byron was initially placed on leave pending an investigation into the concert incident. In a LinkedIn post on July 21, DeJoy addressed the “unusual and surreal” media attention, noting that Astronomer had become a “household name” due to the controversy. He emphasized his commitment to stabilizing the company, stating, “I’m stepping into this role with a wholehearted commitment to taking care of our people and delivering for our customers.” Astronomer’s board has launched a search for a permanent CEO, and it remains unclear whether DeJoy will take on the role long-term.
Personal Life and Net Worth
DeJoy resides in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, with his wife, though he keeps his personal life private, with little information publicly available about his family. His net worth is estimated to be between $20 and $50 million, reflecting his significant stake in Astronomer, a company valued at over $1.3 billion following a $93 million investment round in May 2025 led by Bain Ventures and supported by Salesforce Ventures and Insight Partners. DeJoy is not related to Louis DeJoy, the former U.S. Postmaster General.
Moving Forward
The viral incident, which saw over 22,000 news articles and 15 million readers engaging with the story, has thrust Astronomer into an unexpected spotlight. DeJoy’s leadership will be critical as the company navigates the fallout, with Cabot still on leave and an ongoing investigation. Former employees, like Zachary Hensley, have defended Astronomer’s team, emphasizing its resilience and camaraderie. On X, sentiments from users like Ry Walker, CEO of Tembo, praise DeJoy’s appointment, calling him an “amazing co-founder and friend.” As Astronomer searches for a permanent CEO, DeJoy’s focus remains on maintaining the company’s mission to deliver innovative data solutions.