The phrase "obvious successor" refers to someone who is clearly and naturally qualified to take over a role or position after the current person leaves or retires. Full definition
Business succession planning can be complicated, too, and should be considered early on, whether or not there's not an obvious successor to take over the enterprise. (entrepreneur.com)
The firm's significant investment in cloud computing suggests some willingness to try new things, and there's no denying it remains a dominant player in the industry — and one with no obvious successor. (canadianbusiness.com)
There were no obvious successors at Penney. (fortune.com)