David Prior, a former deputy chairman and chief executive of the Conservative Party, has been earmarked for the role. Mr Prior is currently chairman of Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals Foundation Trust.
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt has invited Mr Prior to attend a public pre-appointment scrutiny hearing with the House of Commons health select committee on 5 December.
Following the hearing, the health secretary will make a decision on whether to appoint Mr Prior to the position of CQC chairman. Current CQC chairwoman Dame Jo Williams resigned from her role in September but has remained in post until a replacement is found.
