One person’s leaving is another’s opportunity, but at the ABC head office in Sydney this morning there’s a lot of chat about Sandra Levy’s decision to jump from the head of TV to Nine as head of development – but very little discussion of where her replacement will come from.

Levy has been criticised by many at the ABC (and outside) for a claimed failure to promote Australian drama and for her at times abrasive style of management. That’s the stuff of ambition and frustration in many cases.

The real criticism that can be levied at Levy is her failure to appoint and nurture talented executives who could assume more power and important roles. If anything, her time at the ABC has been marked by the appointment of executives who could not be seen as serious candidates in any succession. That has left the ABC with a massive hole to fill.

So who are the internal wannabes? Denise Eriksen, head of general factual has ambitions, but can she make the leap? Courtney Gibson, head of Light Entertainment? Nope, too light. Stuart McKenzie, head of Docos? Nope, for the same reason as Gibson. Scott Meek, head of drama? Nope, too recent an appointment and too British.

Would the head of ABC Radio, Sue Howard be interested? She’s ambitious, but has no TV experience. Lynley Marshall, the head of digital and new media might show some interest, likewise Robyn Watts at Enterprise and perhaps Geoffrey Crawford, the head of Communications and Strategy. But whether these executives are thought of as viable candidates is problematic.

They may be experienced in internal ABC politics and processes, but you do need TV knowledge and skills to be head of TV at the ABC.