[1] After completing his primary education in Alaşehir, Kozakçıoğlu attended Atatürk High School in İzmir, finishing in 1955.
[2] After receiving special training by Scotland Yard in security matters,[3] he was appointed in 1978, governor (Turkish: Vali) of Erzurum Province.
[2][6][7] Kozakçıoğlu was appointed on August 19, 1991 governor of Istanbul Province, the most populated administrative division in Turkey.
On March 12, 1995, an attack on a cafe in the mainly by Alevi inhabited Gazi neighborhood in Istanbul resulted in the death of one person and twenty five people were wounded.
He claimed that he did transfer the money on August 12, 1991, with the approval of Interior Minister Mustafa Kalemli, and he paid the amount back on January 18, 1993, upon the regional governor's request.
President Süleyman Demirel declared that "the funds were dedicated for discretionary spending in fight against terror.
[6][11] In the early morning of May 23, 2013, Kozakçıoğlu was found dead in his villa at Reşitpaşa neighborhood of Sarıyer, Istanbul.
Due to the suspicious death of the former State of Emergency (OHAL) Region and Istanbul Governor Hayri Kozakçıoğlu, an investigation was opened.
He was survived by his wife Sabire, two daughters, Faika, Prof. Dr. Meral Kozakçıoğlu Özekici and son Ferhan.