Fulton was previously a member of HM Diplomatic Service from 1968 to 1999 with postings in Saigon, Rome, East Berlin, Oslo, the UK mission to the UN in New York, and finally Washington DC.
In 2000, while a visiting professor at the Glasgow University School of Law, he stepped down as a member of the Lockerbie Trial Briefing Unit, responsible for briefing media on the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing trial, after speculation about his previous role in British Intelligence.
Amongst a number of non-executive and advisory roles since 1999, Fulton is Honorary President (formerly founding Chairman) of the Scottish North American Business Council.
In the security and investigations sector, he has occupied senior roles with Control Risks, Armor Group, Memex Technology, IndigoVision and GPW Ltd.
When Fulton was appointed Chairman of the Scottish Conservatives, the media reported that he had previously been Washington head of station for Britain's Secret Intelligence Service.