That was the core of the problem though: Having framed the guy as an experienced VP clouded all following judgment and kept the author from giving him the boot.
Someone wrote an interesting article once about hiring strategy (Joel?). Basically he didn't want to know anything about the interviewee except what job he was considered for, to the extent that if anyone told him any details (like "Harvard graduate") he'd refuse to interview him, as his perspective would already be tainted.