(Reuters) -Shares of India's Hindustan Unilever closed 4.6% higher on Friday, a day after the Dove soapmaker named a senior executive at its parent Unilever with "a strong track record" as its chief executive.

For the first time in its 92-year history, Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) has appointed a woman, Priya Nair, as its next Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. She currently heads Unilever’s Beauty and Wellbeing division,

Priya Nair will lead Hindustan Unilever from August 1, becoming its first Indian woman CEO. Market reacted positively, with HUL shares rising 4.6%. Analysts expect strategic changes as HUL counters stiff competition in beauty,