He was born in 1970 in Akçaabat district of Trabzon. After graduating from Trabzon High School, he got into the Civil Engineering Department of Eastern Mediterranean University in TRNC. After a while, he enrolled in the Faculty of Communication at the Department of Business Administration of Girne American University. After two years of education in TRNC, he transferred to the Business Administration Department of Istanbul University and graduated in 1994. Thereafter, he received his Master's degree in Human Resources and Management at Istanbul University.

In 1992, he started his business life in the family company engaged in construction and contracting works. He served as the Chairman of the Board at this company. He worked as an executive at Trabzonspor Football Club, Trabzonspor Basketball Club and Beylikdüzüspor Club.

He married his wife Dilek Kaya İmamoğlu in 1995. Their first son Mehmet Selim was born in 1997, their middle child Semih in 2005 and their daughter Beren in 2011.

He started his active political life in 2008 as a member of the Republican People's Party (CHP). He was a candidate for nomination for Beylikdüzü District Mayor in the 2009 local elections. In the same year, he was elected as the Head of CHP Beylikdüzü District. He was the candidate of CHP for Beylikdüzü District Mayor in the 30 March 2014 local elections. He was elected as the Mayor of Beylikdüzü with 50.83% of the votes. He became a candidate for Mayor of Istanbul in the 2019 local elections. Following the elections held on March 31, he was elected as the Mayor of Istanbul. He took office on 17 April 2019, upon the completion of the recount procedures carried out as a result of the objections of Justice and Development Party's (AKP) Istanbul Provincial Head Office. Upon the decision of the Supreme Electoral Board (YSK) on 6 May 2019, his mandate was annulled and the elections for Mayor of Istanbul were rerun on 23 June 2019. In the elections held on June 23, he was elected as the Mayor of Istanbul by receiving 54.21% of the votes. He received his certificate of election on 27 June 2019 and took office. Since then, he has been working for a fair, green and creative Istanbul.