Nikolay Podgornov was born on 15 May 1949[2] in the village of Lezhdom, Gryazovetsky District, Vologda Oblast, to a Russian family.

On 24 October 1991, Podgornov was appointed head of administration of Vologda Oblast by decree of the President of the RSFSR.

In November 1996, Podgornov was arrested on unproven charges of bribery, embezzlement, abuse of office, and tax evasion.

In 1998, the Vologda Regional Court, having considered the case of Podgornov, issued an acquittal on 19 counts out of 20 that appeared in the indictment.

Recognizing the guilt of the ex-governor on the fact of the illegal acquisition of equipment and parts for the jeep provided for his use, on 2 December 1998, the court sentenced him to one year of probation.

He retired from political activity, went into business, was the general director of the Northern Farm agricultural company.

According to the investigating authorities in the Vologda Oblast, from 1 April 2011 to 30 November 2012, he withheld more than 11 million rubles of income tax from his employees without transferring them to the budget.