Neil Godwin

Neil Godwin
Name	Neil Godwin
Job	Co-Managing Director
First Episode	Merger
Last Episode	Christmas Special Part 2
Episode count	8
Portrayed by	Patrick Baladi

Neil Godwin was manager of the Swindon branch of Wernham Hogg. Following the merger of his branch with the Slough branch, Neil is instated as the Co-Managing Director, overseeing Wernham Hogg and thus becoming David Brent's boss. He is a more competent manager than David, has a better relationship with the staff and even finds it easier to make the staff laugh. Brent is hugely resentful and jealous of him, and makes occasional (and largely unsuccessful) attempts to either undermine or rival him.

History

Season 1

Neil had to prove to Jennifer Taylor-Clarke that his branch could successfully incorporate the Slough branch. He was reportedly also worried about making redundancies. (Downsize)

Upon receiving the news of the proposed merger, Neil had made some big changes to his branch. He froze any wage increases, put a stop to all over-time, made it so that any purchases over £100 now go through him and had started making redundancies. (Work Experience)

Trivia

• The show's co-creator Ricky Gervais stated in the DVD commentary that Godwin is a character who they intended not be liked.