But if the board wanted to consider switching to "someone else's platform", why would they hire someone from Microsoft?

Does this suggest that the board wanted to do a deal with Microsoft all along? If so, why would they need to hire him to do it?

Or that they didn't know what they wanted and this guy seized the initiative?

Edit: answering my own question. I think the board probably brought this guy in to take the heat in case this deal goes really bad from a PR and legal perspective.