Take-Two COO takes time out

Gary Dale's time as chief operating officer at Take-Two has turned out to be short-lived. After assuming the role of the Grand Theft Auto IV publisher's COO in August, Take-Two revealed today by way of a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that Dale will vacate his post as of April 15.

"He resigned his position from the company effective today," Alan Lewis, Take-Two vice president of corporate communications, told GameSpot. "His day-to-day responsibilities have immediately ceased and...have since been absorbed by other senior members of the executive team. The company does not expect to fill the position."

After a stint serving as Capcom Europe's managing director, Dale signed aboard Take-Two in 2007, taking the role of COO at the publisher's subsidiary, Rockstar Games.

The move was a return of sorts for the career executive. He had previously served as president of the interactive software and video division of BMG Interactive from 1994--which published the original Grand Theft Auto game. Take-Two bought the now-dormant publishing house in 1998.

By December 2007, Dale had moved up a rung on the corporate ladder, assuming the role of Take-Two executive vice president, with a focus on optimizing the publisher's sales and marketing operations. Dale held that role until August, when he was appointed COO of the publisher.