[electroagenda]

Basically because they manipulated me.

The guy was previously hired as a contractor.

Then, another senior SW engineer left the company and we opened a new position to replace him.

The VP told me that his friend was going to be signed, because there were issues having him as a contractor. (Actually he is quite old and should be retired). But he never mentioned that he was taking the senior SW engineer position.

One day, just by chance, I discovered that the senior position had been cancelled, talking with HR people. And, as you could imagine, I got really angry!

[KuriousCat]

If it is VP of Engineering and he/she is reporting to you, one option would be to delegate the responsibility to manage the senior SWE to the VP and make both accountable to deliver the results. I think you also might need to reconsider your position as a CTO, if a VP could simply bypass you like that you have bigger issues at hand than managing the protege.