LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) – Amy Pascal, the Sony executive whose e-mails were leaked during the North Korean movie hacking storm, is stepping down, the Hollywood studio announced Thursday.

Pascal, co-chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), was forced to apologise in December for leaked e-mails including one which saw her swap racially insensitive jokes about President Barack Obama.

A Sony statement said Pascal, widely regarded as one of the most powerful women in Hollywood, would launch a “major new production venture” at the studio, which was rocked by the hacking storm centered on the satirical film “The Interview.”

“I have spent almost my entire professional life at Sony Pictures and I am energised to be starting this new chapter based at the company I call home,” she said in a company statement.

“I have always wanted to be a producer. (Sony CEO) Michael (Lynton) and I have been talking about this transition for quite some time, and I am grateful to him for giving me the opportunity to pursue my long-held dream and for providing unparalleled support,” she added.

Pascal apologised in December after the emergence of private e-mails which included an exchange with producer Scott Rudin where they joked about Obama’s movie preferences.

In a separate damaging exchange with Pascal, Rudin referred to Angelina Jolie as a “spoiled brat.”

“The Interview” was originally scheduled for a Christmas Day release, beforeSony became the target of the biggest cyberattack in US corporate history.

Threats made by hackers prompted Sony to initially cancel its theatrical release. It was eventually screened in select art house cinemas, and released on the Internet and via cable TV providers.

Washington has blamed North Korea for the hack on Sony — a claim Pyongyang has denied while still strongly condemning the film, which features a fictional plot to assassinate leader Kim Jong-un.

“The Interview,” which had a $44 million budget, has since become Sony’s highest-grossing online film ever, reportedly recently passing the $40 million mark on the Internet and other small-screen formats.

The details of Pascal’s new venture were due to be announced “shortly,” Sonysaid.

But it said the venture will be her own company, supported by Sony and based at its California headquarters, and will “focus on movies, television and theater.”

As part of a four-year agreement, SPE will finance the venture and retain all distribution rights worldwide to films financed, it added.

Lynton praised his departing co-chairman.

“Amy’s creativity, drive, and bold choices helped define SPE as a studio where talented individuals could take chances and push boundaries in order to deliver outstanding entertainment,” he said.

“The studio’s legacy is due in large part to Amy’s passion for storytelling and love of this industry. I am delighted that Amy will be continuing her association with SPE through this new venture, which capitalises on her extraordinary talents.

Referring to the hacking scandal, he added: “In recent months, SPE faced some unprecedented challenges, and I am grateful for Amy’s resilience and grace during this period. Amy has been a great partner to me in heading the studio and I am looking forward to a continued close working relationship with her in her new role on the lot.”

Late last month Japanese parent company Sony said it had won permission to delay the release of its quarterly earnings report, after the cyberattack damaged the computer network of its Hollywood film unit.

The Japanese firm said it was asking for the delay because subsidiary SPE would not have time to put together its financial statements after the attack.