Very likely the guys just did the job and took care of themselves. It is not particularly rare. There are managers who don't contribute anything to actual output, coasting on ground work done by predecessors and being absentee enough to not interfere.
Had he ever faced an actual crisis, change or was stuck in the position for more than brief moment, this would very likely ended differently.
Had he ever faced an actual crisis, change or was stuck in the position for more than brief moment, this would very likely ended differently.