Energy consultancy Opportune adds Shaun Ahn as managing director

Houston-based energy consultancy Opportune LLP has brought in Shaun Ahn as a managing director and head of the tax advisory practice. He brings nearly two decades of tax consulting, tax law, accounting, and financial reporting experience to the role.

Founded in 2005, Opportune delivers a wide suite of advisory services to energy sector clients, including upstream, midstream, downstream, power and gas, commodities trading and oilfield services. The firm’s offerings span strategy, technology, risk, tax, financial reporting, disputes, restructuring, and M&A advisory services.

In addition to its Houston headquarters, Opportune has offices in Dallas, Tulsa, Denver, New York, and London.

New managing partner and head of tax Shaun Ahn will principally focus on corporate and operational finance, M&A advisory, and tax consulting and compliance.

Before joining Opportune, Ahn spent four years as head of tax at Westlake Chemical, where he successfully executed the Axiall and Nakan acquisitions. During his time at Westlake, Ahn also integrated the firm’s tax function, implemented process improvements and tax technology, and provided M&A support and management preparation.

Before that, he was a senior tax advisor at Shell, where he led the IPO of Shell Midstream Partners LP. Prior to Shell, he was director of tax planning for Asia-Pacific and Latin America at energy firm Weatherford International, and was senior tax counsel at Occidental Petroleum Corporation. At Occidental, he led the firm’s disposition of its Argentine business, and executed its acquisition of Philbro.

Earlier in his career, Ahn was a senior tax attorney at ExxonMobil. He began his career with PwC, where he specialized in corporate and operational tax advisory.

“We are pleased to welcome Shaun to our tax team in Houston,” Dean Price, partner at Opportune, said. “His expertise in tax, corporate finance, and M&A in the energy sector will add significant value to our clients.”

Commenting on his appointment, Ahn said, “Opportune is the ideal platform for me to leverage my experience and deliver value to clients, whether it’s providing accurate and timely compliance and reporting services or identifying and implementing planning initiatives.

“I am familiar with Opportune’s impeccable reputation in the energy industry, and I am excited to join the firm and lead the Tax Advisory practice.”

Ahn holds a BS in business administration from Central Washington University, MBA and JD degrees from Rutgers University, and an LLM postgraduate law degree from the NYU School of Law. He is a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia.