What is the name of Brent's personal secretary hired despite downsizing?

Brent’s personal secretary hired despite downsizing is Karen Roper.

Karen Roper is hired because David Brent insists that he needs a personal assistant, even though the Slough branch is already facing downsizing and redundancies. The decision exposes one of Brent’s central contradictions: he presents himself as a responsible manager while using company resources to satisfy his own preferences and vanity.

Karen is played by Nicola Cotter and appears as Brent’s secretary in the British series. Her hiring is especially awkward because staff members are worried about job security, making the creation of a new role look wasteful and self-serving. Brent’s attraction to Karen also influences his judgment, further undermining the business justification for the appointment.

The character is sometimes confused with Donna, Brenda or Rachel, all of whom are associated with the wider office ensemble. Donna is a Slough employee introduced earlier, Brenda is a Swindon colleague, and Rachel becomes part of Tim’s storyline. None is Brent’s personal secretary. Karen’s appointment is discussed in the Series 2 episode “Party”.