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submitted 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) by babysandpiper@sopuli.xyz to c/news@lemmy.world

A US tech company says its chief executive has quit after he was apparently caught on a big screen at a Coldplay concert embracing a female co-worker, in a clip that went viral.

The clip showed a man and a woman hugging on a jumbo screen at the arena in Foxborough, Massachusetts, before they abruptly ducked and hid from the camera.

The pair were identified in US media as Mr Byron, a married chief executive of Astronomer, and Kristin Cabot, the firm's chief people officer.

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[-] Kekzkrieger@feddit.org 34 points 10 months ago

Its so weird tha dude had to resign and get suspended just because he had an affair.

Dont get me wrong, dude is a scumbag (like most CEOs) for cheating on his wife and so is the lady who also cheated on their partner. Without question they did wrong and should face their personal consequences.

But why in the USA hell is this an issue on the work side - it shouldn't be Let whoever fuck with whoever non of the companies business.

[-] Modern_medicine_isnt@lemmy.world 76 points 10 months ago

He was technically her boss. And he gave her that job. Was it because she was sleeping with him? That will certainly cause people at the company to assume so. So whenevr the next person doesn't get a promo, they will sue because the company fostered an environment where you only get ahead by having sex with your superiors. Also, most companies have a written policy about fraternizing with subordinates. It usually states termination as a consequence of breaking the policy.

[-] fmstrat@lemmy.nowsci.com 38 points 10 months ago

Because it's a conflict of interest to not disclose a relationship with a subordinate. This is a normal course of action, it's just been denormalized as of late.

[-] Chip_Rat@lemmy.world 28 points 10 months ago

It's not the cheating. It's the "porking your HR lady" part that's a problem for companies who dont want to get sued.

I haven't read to many articles on the matter but for all we know hr lady does not like him at all but wanted to keep/get that job and now she is stuck in an abusive relationship. Can't share with her partner cause yeah... And can't get HR to step in cause... Yeah.

No evidence that is the case but that's why we should fire CEOs who date their underlings. You are right we should absolutely not be firing people for not abiding a religious/social contract that has nothing to do with their job.

[-] NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml 3 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

At no company is HR ever going to step in over something the CEO is doing because they don't have the authority. -It is difficult to get an objective business take from a subordinate you're porking, though.

[-] Chip_Rat@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

Mostly true. Depends on the structure of the company I'd imagine. Pretending shit works like it's written in the rule book and not exactly what you just said (won't get involved cause he is boss) HR would absolutely bring this to the board of directors as it jeopardizes the company's bottom line. And we all know Money is the real boss.

[-] BleatingZombie@lemmy.world 24 points 10 months ago

I think the main issue is that he was cheating with the head of HR

[-] Rekorse@sh.itjust.works 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

The main issue is hiding it. Hes not fucking batman or something. Divorce your wife and get with the hr lady who gives a fuck, dont act like its some schoolyard secret.

[-] Aceticon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 10 months ago

The main issue for the company is that he's having an affair with a person directly under him in the company - it's a conflict of interest at the very least, with the possibility of the person higher up in the hierarchy having leveraged their position to get sexual gratification from their underling and/or of the underling having used their sexuality to influence that higher up in the professional domain (for example, to get salary raises).

Absolutely, they might both be impeccably professional and not let their romantic relationship influence their professional relationship, but the company doesn't know that and it's hard to disprove that it wasn't so.

On the Moral and Ethical plan, the main issue is indeed that they're betraying their respective partners in secret rather than having assumed their relationship.

[-] Rekorse@sh.itjust.works 1 points 10 months ago

Its entirely possible that if they disclosed the relationship to the board or whoever, they would have an arrangement where he doesnt have to quit.

[-] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 19 points 10 months ago

Two coworkers on equal footing is one thing (though still discouraged), but when there's a power imbalance (ceo-hr, manager-associate) it becomes a pretty significant conflict of interest.

Some examples;

A Manager gives favor to their lover and promotes them over other employees that fit the position better or did more to earn it.

CEO signs off on a big bonus for their subordinate lover, who then shares it with them on a fancy cruise.

[-] SunshineJogger@feddit.org 10 points 10 months ago

All this tells me is that he is rich enough to not care about a job and just take a sabbatical until the commotion has died down.

Its all just not wanting to deal with other humans.

[-] Guitarfun@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Because if you've been proven to be immoral and a liar no one wants to work with you or buy your product. Of course they're going to force the CEO out.

[-] Kekzkrieger@feddit.org 20 points 10 months ago

Just like mr trump right? Right?

[-] kbobabob@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 10 months ago

Ehhh, cults are a little different

[-] Bronzebeard@lemmy.zip 3 points 10 months ago

It's different when you're majority stakeholder. No one with enough influence to force you to do anything.

[-] empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 10 months ago

They only get forced out when they get caught.

Immoral liars are mandatory for C-suite positions otherwise.

[-] FelixCress@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago

if you've been proven to be immoral and a liar no one wants to work with you or buy your product

*Donald Trump enters the chat

[-] dovah@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago

A big part of being a CEO is being the face of the company. Many companies hire a CEO simply based on their recognition in the industry. If you have a bad image, companies won't want to associate with you.

[-] fluxion@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago

He should run for President instead

[-] HootinNHollerin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 10 months ago

This story is being promoted in the media to distract from trump being a child rapist

[-] anarchy79@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago

YEAH GEE I WONDER WHY THIS BECAME THE NUMBER ONE STORY GLOBALLY RIGHT NOW IT'S SUCH A FUCKING MYSTERY OH MY LET'S CALL SCOOBY DOO AND THE GHOSTBUSTERS

Fucking jesus almighty christ have you people learned NOTHING!?

this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2025
336 points (95.4% liked)

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