Collocations for successor - noun

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

chosen, designated, eventual | immediate | likely, possible, potential

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

appoint, choose, elect, find | groom | hand over to
She will hand over to her successor in one year''s time.

take over

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

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

~ to
The new Ministry of Food is the successor to the old Department of Agriculture.

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