After gaining a Masters in English Literature, Rich worked in New York as a journalist at The Nation Magazine from 1989 to 1991. On returning to London he joined Yorkshire Television, where he became a documentaries producer/director.

Between 1997 and 2004 he was a commissioning editor at Channel 4 in the Education department and then the Managing Director of Maverick Television.

In 2004 he set up Love Productions with his partner Anna Beattie, where he has since been the Chief Executive and Chief Creative Officer. Love Productions is a multi award-winning independent production company of factual television, known for its ground-breaking documentaries and other television programmes such as The Great British Bake Off.