Columbia tech company BigBear.ai taps former IBM exec as CEO

Columbia’s BigBear.ai has tapped a former IBM executive to take over as CEO of the publicly traded tech company. Amanda Long, who most recently served as vice president of IT automation at IBM, took over the top job from Reggie Brothers effective Oct. 12, the company announced this week. At IBM, Long worked to grow the “Watson” artificial intelligence franchise, which famously won $1 million in Jeopardy. Watson now has 100 million users, with 70% of global banking institutions utilizing the software. Brothers will continue to have a relationship with the company, serving as a member of BigBear.ai’s board of advisors, which meets regularly with the company’s leadership team, Peter Cannito, chairman of the company’s board of directors, said in a statement to the BBJ.