Zekeriya Özturk completed his high school education at Şehremini Lisesi, then received his undergraduate degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Istanbul Technical University (ITU), followed by A MSc degree in Robotics at ITU. Subsequently, in 1994, he completed an MBA programme at the University of Edinburgh, specialising in Business Administration.

He began his engineering career in 1990 in Naval Architecture, but transitioned to the finance sector in 1995. He held positions as an equity analyst, strategist, and head of research at firms including Eczacıbaşı Securities, Garanti Investment Bank, Ekinciler Securities, ING Barings, and Demir Investment until 2000.

In 2000, he moved to London, where he held senior roles at Merrill Lynch, at Turkey and EMEA financial sector equities desk. Following another career shift in 2006, he was appointed Executive Vice President in charge of International Business Development at Garanti Bank. Until 2013, he also served on the boards of directors of GarantiBank Romania, Garanti Securities, and Garanti Asset Management.

Since 2013, he has been managing his own consultancy and research company, iRes Finansal Araştırma Danışmanlık ve Eğitim Hizmet A.Ş. and continues to advise companies in areas such as corporate structuring, treasury management and markets..

He had been a board member at FODER (Financial Literacy and Inclusion Association) between 2012 and 2023 and since then he is serving as a Chairman of the board at FODER as part of social responsibility volunteering.