HSBC Launches "The Right Wave" Campaign

HSBC has launched The Right Wave, a hero brand film built around the relationship between Tahitian big-wave surfer Matahi Drollet and his jet ski driver Tahurai Henry as they navigate 25-foot swells at Teahupoʻo, one of the world's most demanding surf breaks. The film positions the trust between athlete and support driver as a direct metaphor for HSBC's role as a banking partner for customers navigating market volatility.

The film was shot during live high-risk wave breaks at Teahupoʻo, directed by Kiku Ohe alongside cinematographers Tim Lorentzen and Morgan Maassen. Production was handled by Superprime Films in collaboration with local Polynesian company We Are Ora, whose knowledge of the break and its conditions shaped when and how the film was captured. 

Ad cutdowns are running across digital, social, streaming platforms, and inflight entertainment on flagship airlines. A documentary exploring Drollet and Henry's relationship and their connection to Teahupoʻo will launch later this year. The campaign supports HSBC's stated ambition to be the world's most trusted bank. The campaign was developed by Team Helix, WPP's integrated agency team for HSBC, led by VML UK in partnership with VML Lisbon, with media by OMG.

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