Yankee Candle Co., South Deerfield, MA, has appointed Bruce H. Besanko chief financial officer to replace Robert R. Spellman, who previously announced plans to retire early in 2005.

Besanko joins Yankee Candle from Best Buy, where he served as vice president of finance. Prior to joining Best Buy in 2002, Besanko held several financial leadership positions for Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Given his retirement, Spellman is also resigning from Yankee Candle as a director, effective April 1.