He wasn't called "the" leader. He was called "a" leader, and after what he told Roy about Roy taking charge, and how Roy respected it, I think it's a perfectly acceptable label.
For a little more perspective, "a" doesn't equal "the", and Roy stated to the media this spring that Howard has been a leader and a mentor for him.
I figured as much. Howard is definitely "a" leader. I'm sure you can agree with that, considering he told Roy that Roy should be "the" leader, and Roy learned from that exchange.