A high$-$potential employee identified as a successor for a critical leadership role announces unexpected resignation to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. Succession planning documents are outdated and show no immediate backup candidates.$$What is the most strategic immediate HR response?

Question $1$ Select one:

a$.$

Freeze the role until a new successor can be identified internally.

b$.$

Launch an emergency external search for immediate backfill.

c$.$

Promote a second$-$tier candidate despite weaker readiness signals to avoid disruption.

d$.$

Initiate an interim leadership rotation plan while revisiting succession pipelines.