Neil Godwin

At the beginning of The Office, Neil and David Brent are managers at the Swindon and Slough branches respectively. Following the merger of the two, Neil is instated as the Co-Managing Director, overseeing Wernham Hogg and thus becoming Brent's boss.

Neil is popular man with his colleagues due to his fashion sense, in-office French Cricket matches, and homemade birthday cakes. He also possesses a cool, clinical air of professionalism which causes jealousy in David Brent, who describes him as "gay" yet copies Neil's fashion choices. The show's co-creator Ricky Gervais stated in the DVD commentary that Godwin is a character who they intended not be liked.