Rodd was educated at the independent school Trinity College, Glenalmond (now Glenalmond College) near Perth in Scotland, and at Newcastle University.
Having begun his career on BBC Look North in 1967, Rodd became a familiar face to millions of television viewers in Britain as a presenter for the BBC of Screen Test (1970–79), Tomorrow's World (1972–82) and The Risk Business (1980–81). He also hosted television coverage of the early Space Shuttle launches for the BBC. Later he worked for the ITV contractor TVS on its science programme The Real World.
In 1980 Rodd established Blackrod, an independent producer of film, video and interactive productions for business and industry.
He was named Industrial Broadcaster of the Year in 1980 by the British Institute of Management, who acknowledged "his work in communicating the commercial realities of the digital revolution".
