Cem Tanrıkılıcı was born in Istanbul in 1966. He completed his undergraduate degree in the School of Journalism (now Faculty of Communications) at Istanbul University and his master's in Business Management and Organization at Istanbul University's School of Management. Tanrıkılıcı began his career in journalism in 1984 as a copy reader at Dünya newspaper, then became page designer, Chief of National News, and Managing Editor of the same newspaper.
In 1993, Tanrıkılıcı joined the Günaydın publishing company as Economics Editor of Günaydın newspaper and Editor-in-Chief of the Ekonomik Bülten newspaper. In 1995, he was appointed Editor-in-Chief of Barometre newspaper and Economics Editor of the Kanal E television channel, where he was also responsible for producing and presenting a variety of programs.
Tanrıkılıcı joined the Eczacıbaşı Group in 2000 as Director of Press Relations.