Ryan Howard

Ryan Howard started as a temporary employee at Dunder Mifflin Scranton. Initially quiet, ambitious, and seemingly harmless, he quickly realized he wanted more than office drudgery. His charm and education made him stand out to Michael Scott, who admired him excessively and treated him as a “protégé.” Ryan was often sarcastic, detached, and dismissive of his coworkers, quietly judging their absurdities.

He eventually left the Scranton branch after being promoted to Vice President of Northeast Sales at corporate. In this role, Ryan grew increasingly arrogant, condescending, and obsessed with flashy “business buzzwords.” He distanced himself from his old colleagues, acting superior and cultivating an image of success.

However, his ambition turned destructive. He spearheaded a fraudulent online sales website initiative for Dunder Mifflin, manipulating numbers and misleading investors. When the scheme collapsed, Ryan was arrested for fraud. His fall from grace was public and humiliating, exposing his lies and incompetence.

After losing his position and reputation, Ryan returned to Scranton disgraced. Despite everything, Michael hired him back at the branch, offering him a second chance in a much lower role. This rehire created resentment and tension among the staff, as Ryan had burned bridges and acted with arrogance. Still, he retained his ambition and cynicism, continuing to rely on sarcasm, self-importance, and manipulation to navigate the office environment.

Increasingly arrogant, condescending, and ambitious, speaking almost exclusively in business buzzwords