Remember the leak that COs were going to be a thing of the past? (Fool me once.....)
Actually the leak was correct. The GB was looking into getting rid of DO's and CO's and discussing this with foreign Branches for input. They'd talked about using brothers from the specific circuit to visit local congregations as in a City Overseer arrangement. Part-time circuit overseers would report to the local Branches, help process appointments, give special talks, etc. all from his own home base and using his own transportation as visiting speakers do now.
The DO's have been let go but the CO's remain although the CO visits have been shortened and they've been given more responsibility for appointments.
The leak was just too soon during the process as they muddled their way through the "changes" that the JW's would need to go along with although not seeming logical from a "human" point of view. So... These changes were in the works, discussed with foreign Branch rep's but too raw when the leak went out.