I read it more as, nobody under the CEO, from the C-suite down, that isn’t also on the board, is setting direction. Not that the board was collectively trying

I read it more as, nobody under the CEO, from the C-suite down, that isn’t also on the board, is setting direction. Not that the board was collectively trying to be CEO. But in a wartime/survival situation, I would hope the board had some opinionated members. If only to make sure the right CEO was in place.