Collocations for successor - noun

logical, natural, obvious
rightful, worthy
Their latest offering is a worthy successor to their popular debut album.

chosen, designated, eventual
hand-picked (esp. AmE)
immediate
permanent
likely, possible, potential
would-be
his would-be successor

spiritual

have
He doesn't have an obvious successor as party leader.

appoint, choose, elect, find, hand-pick (esp. AmE), name, pick, select
groom
hand over to (esp. BrE)
She will hand over to her successor in one year's time.

take over

as sb's successor
She has been appointed as his successor.

successor as
Andrew Kirkham will be her successor as Chief Executive.

successor to
the challenge to create a worthy successor to the old library building
The new Ministry of Food is the successor to the old Department of Agriculture.

the appointment of a successor, the choice of a successor, the election of a successor
be tipped as a possible successor (esp. BrE)
The former newsreader is being tipped as a possible successor to the outgoing Head of Broadcasting.