Predecessor (noun)

1. A person or thing that precedes another in an office, position, or function.
2. A person or thing that comes before another in time or in a sequence of development.

Origin:

From latin praedecessor ("forerunner"), from prae ("before") + decessor ("one who goes before"), from decidere ("to go befor.e")

Examples:

1. He was the predecessor of the current president.
2. The new model is the successor to its predecessor.
3. The company's predecessor was founded in the 19th century.
4. The predecessor of the car was the horse and buggy.
5. The new product is an improvement over its predecessor.