Andrew Cabot
Andrew Cabot

Property and corporate records have thrust Massachusetts spirits executive Andrew Cabot into an online frenzy after his wife, Astronomer's chief people officer Kristin Cabot, was filmed alongside CEO Andy Byron on a 'kiss cam' at a Coldplay show that later went viral.

Public filings indicate that Kristin (maiden name Stanek), 52, has shared a Rye, New Hampshire address with Andrew Cabot since at least 2023, placing the rum boss directly in the glare of a tech‑sector scandal now spilling into the drinks world.

READ MORE: Astronomer CEO Andy Byron Resigns – Why Hasn't Kristin Cabot?

Kristin and Andrew's Home

In February this year the pair purchased a two‑storey, four‑bed New Englander-style house a short distance from the Atlantic coastline for a reported $2.2 million, a transaction cited by multiple outlets while questions circulate about the precise timing and location of their marriage, which has not been publicly confirmed.

Kristin Cabot's now‑deleted LinkedIn profile had shown her listed as an 'advisory board member' at Privateer Rum since September 2020, reflecting a formalised link with her husband's drinks venture in addition to her senior human resources role in software.

About Andrew Cabot

Andrew Cabot leads Privateer Rum as both CEO and COO, with the company highlighting a lineage narrative dating back to the American Revolution.

The firm's site states his 'ancestor, the original Andrew Cabot (1750-1791), was a merchant, rum distiller and successful American privateer during the American Revolution.'

Brand material further profiles the executive: 'Responsible for the vision and strategy, Andrew works closely with the team he assembled to produce one of the finest rums in in the world.'

His biography adds that one guiding question – 'how can we do this better?' – has shaped a career spanning technology, public education and academia before steering a New England craft spirits business.

Marketing copy underscores a quality‑and‑provenance pitch, with one advertisement declaring: 'One thing is certain,' one ad advises. 'Privateer advocates transparency, honesty and purity.' Netizens were quick to point out how this statement has now contradicted current events involving wife.

'Coldplaygate'

Attention spilled over from alcoholic beverages to enterprise software after the Coldplay concert moment featuring Kristin Cabot and Andy Byron exploded across social media, rapidly spawning memes, commentary threads and media coverage that scrutinised personal relationships and corporate cultures in tandem.

On stage, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin quipped to the crowd, 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy," a line that circulated widely as online viewers dissected the pair's attempt to duck from the venue screen.

The video's virality coincided with the scrubbing or deactivation of LinkedIn profiles linked to the executives, adding to speculation while fuelling a cascade of press inquiries.

Astronomer publicly acknowledged a formal probe: '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,' the company said, adding, 'The Board of Directors has initiated a formal investigation into this matter and we will have additional details to share very shortly.'

Subsequent reporting indicated that the CEO had been placed on leave pending the outcome, with an interim leadership arrangement set while the board reviews the circumstances around the incident.

Kristin Cabot Husbands

Personal history has also resurfaced: Kristin Cabot previously filed for divorce from her former husband Kenneth Thornby in 2018, which finalised in 2022, before her later property transaction alongside Andrew Cabot came to light during the present storm.

Images purporting to show Andrew and Kristin Cabot with two children have circulated on social platforms during the week, further intensifying public curiosity about the rum executive's private life as he has remained publicly silent.

Neither Privateer Rum nor Andrew Cabot issued immediate comment when approached by reporters, and attempts to reach Kristin Cabot also went unanswered, leaving official corporate statements — rather than personal clarifications — to frame the unfolding narrative.

The collision of a workplace investigation, a viral entertainment clip and a craft spirits brand's heritage messaging has now placed Andrew Cabot — previously a relatively low‑profile regional entrepreneur — under a spotlight reaching far beyond New England tasting rooms.

While the investigation proceeds, scrutiny of governance standards, HR ethics and executive conduct continues alongside renewed attention to Privateer Rum's positioning and marketing language — an irony noted by observers given promotional lines about integrity and purity. (Analytical inference based on juxtaposed reporting and brand quotes.)