Ross founded Grant Samuel in 1988. He retired as Chairman in 2019. Ross was previously an Executive Director of Macquarie Bank Limited having joined Hill Samuel Australia Limited (the predecessor of Macquarie Bank Limited) in 1975. Ross holds degrees in Mathematics (BSc (Hons) – Otago University), Economics (MCom (Hons) – Canterbury University) and Business Administration (MBA – University of NSW).

Ross was formerly a Director of Australian Wildlife Conservancy, the Mito Foundation and Waratahs Rugby. He is a Director of The Centre for Independent Studies.