ross was educated at the royal agricultural college. after spending a year as a surveyor for buccleuch estates, he joined savills in 1973. he became a partner in 1982 and a director four years later. in 1996, he joined the council of the duchy of cornwall. the following year, he left savills and was appointed secretary and keeper of the records of the duchy of cornwall. he retired in 2013, and returned to savills as a consultant.