Fields Another Offer

William R. Fields, ceo of both Wal-Mart Stores (Bentonville, Ark.) and Blockbuster Entertainment Group (Dallas) during the 1990s, has been named chairman and ceo of Factory 2-U Stores Inc. (San Diego), the former Family Bargain chain of 261 discount apparel stores.

Fields, who joined Wal-Mart as an assistant store manager in 1971, served as president and ceo from 1993 to 1996. He then went on to head Blockbuster in 1996 and 97, Hudson's Bay Co. (Toronto) from 1997 to 99 and was most recently chairman and ceo of Apec China Asset Management Ltd., a firm that helps Western companies gain access to and do business in the People's Republic of China.

At Factory 2-U, Fields replaces Mike Searles, who had been chairman, president and ceo since 1998.

Factory 2-U operates primarily in ethnically diverse markets largely made up of Hispanic, African-American and Asian consumers in 13 mostly Western and Southwestern states. It sells mostly close-out name-brand apparel, housewares, footwear and toys.