Never jump the chain of command.
I work as a regional supervisor. Every now and then someone will bypass me and my supervisor and go directly to the top guy. It creates all kinds of trouble. They can tell the top guy all kinds of stories that I know are not true, and he believes it because he is not here.
I finally got permission to send a gentle note to the top guy to ask him not to allow these bypassers.
I agree never bypass the chain of command....always go to them first and each one up the chain. They are gate keepers for a reason.