 Gordon was educated at the St Aloysius' College, Glasgow and the University of Glasgow, where he graduated as a Master of Arts in Classics in 1958.Gordon worked as a political editor for STV between 1965 and 1973, and as managing director of Radio Clyde between 1973 and 1996.For Scottish Radio Holdings, Gordon was the Chief Executive from 1991 to 1996 and Chairman from 1996 to 2005; he was also Vice-Chairman of Melody Radio from 1991 to 1997, a director of Clydeport Holdings from 1992 to 1998 and Chairman of the Scottish Tourist Board from 1998 to 2001.