Deron Triff,
Co-founder/CEO of Changents, digital media business development executive

Deron Triff is a digital media business development executive and the Co-founder/CEO of Changents – a social media company that turns “rock stars” of social and environmental change (Change Agents) into Internet celebrities and helps them build followings among a youthful, global audience who wants to help. Prior to launching Changents, Deron served as Vice President for Scholastic Entertainment where he spearheaded the joint venture to launch Qubo, a children’s programming venture in partnership with NBC Universal, ION Media Networks, Classic Media and Corus Entertainment.

Deron also served as Vice President of Digital Ventures for PBS where he represented the network in putting together the successful preschool cable network, Sprout – a joint venture with Comcast Corporation, HIT Entertainment and Sesame Workshop. Deron originally joined PBS in 1999 and is also credited for launching PBS’s cable video on-demand service and the PBS HD Channel. He played a key role in advising the PBS Board on digital rights, technologies and business models.

Internationally, Deron spent time with British Telecom in London expanding the company’s international satellite services business, particularly in Romania and Israel. He also had the experience of setting up distribution deals for US and Canadian cable networks in Central America through a 2-year stint with Castalia Communications, an Atlanta-based cable distribution consultancy. Early in his career Deron was a journalist for NBC’s owned-and-operated Denver station.

Deron attended McGill University in Montreal for his MBA – one of the most international among today’s leading business schools with half of its student body representing over 25 different nations. Deron’s interest in McGill’s curriculum – which naturally leans toward advancing an understanding of global issues – has instilled in him a deep sense of social responsibility and international perspective. Deron holds a BA in journalism from the University of Georgia in Athens.

Deron is a rights holder in the National Geographic Adventure feature article “Off the Face of the Earth,” (June 2004) which is currently in development for a motion picture film, a television documentary and a book. Deron currently lives on the New Hampshire coast with his wife, Trang, and two children – Madeleine and Max. Whether ice climbing, kite boarding or launching a start-up, Deron brings a life-on-the-edge ethos to everything he does.

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