Having an alpha who prevents domination, by dominating everyone, can actually work well, if he's not around very much.

Like an absent god.

And did he himself also changed afterwards?

Yup.

He was a mixed bag as a director as he could get sort of autocratic, impulsive and ... was a bit out of his element a lot of times.

But, you could hold him to his word, he listened, and he was loyal. One of those flawed guys who... you'd still choose to work for if you could.