Apparent conclusion of leadership picked up (8)
I believe the answer is:
presumed
'apparent' is the definition.
(presumed can mean apparent or supposed)
'conclusion of leadership picked up' is the wordplay.
'conclusion of' suggests the final letters.
'picked up' becomes 'resumed' (to pick up is to carry on doing something).
The last letter of 'leadership' is 'p'.
'p'+'resumed'='PRESUMED'
(Other definitions for presumed that I've seen before include "thought" , "Supposed" , "Took for granted" , "expected" , "Was impertinent" .)