about us
Our Mission + Client Covenant
MISSION
At Lumen Partners, our mission is to empower alternative asset managers to achieve sustainable growth and long-term success by delivering exceptional support that allows them to focus on what they do best — investing.
CLIENT COVENANT
At Lumen, we are dedicated to providing exceptional support and partnership to our clients. Our commitments include:
Reliability & Precision
We prioritize structured processes and clear communication to ensure deadlines are met and daily responsibilities are handled with care.
Uncompromising Quality
We deliver work of the highest caliber, with meticulous attention to detail in every product and service.
24/7 Accessibility & Personalized Support
We provide high-touch service and remain available by phone around the clock to meet your needs.
Investor Relations Excellence
We support our clients in building and sustaining strong relationships with both current and prospective investors.
Trusted Partnership
We act as a trusted business partner, fully aligned with our clients’ goals and committed to their long-term success.
Mary M. Matranga, Founder and CEO
Mary founded Lumen Partners in 2021 to help top-tier alternative asset managers build and scale institutional-quality businesses. She brings over 12 years of experience launching domestic and offshore structures, leading firm and fund restructurings, and managing liquidations and wind-downs. Her expertise lies in designing robust operational, accounting, and compliance infrastructures for both emerging and established managers.
Previously, Mary was CFO, COO, and CCO of a Houston-based hedge fund, where she oversaw all business operations and supported AUM growth from $20 million to $200 million.
She currently serves as Chair of the Investment Committee for the University of North Texas Foundation and has contributed as a subject matter expert to the Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional Exam. Mary holds a BA in Art History from the University of Texas at Austin and an MBA in Finance from Rice University.
Ash Thaker, Principal
Ash has over 25 years of experience building and scaling institutional investment platforms globally. He advises emerging fund managers, endowments, foundations, and family offices on establishing world-class operational infrastructure.
He has held senior roles—including COO, CFO, and CCO—at multi-billion dollar hedge funds, leading cloud-based transitions of critical systems (OMS/EMS, PMS, RMS), building alternative data platforms, and launching SMA products including AIFMD vehicles. Ash also led compliance, investor relations, and trading desk optimization initiatives. Ash began his career at Credit Suisse where, as Director at Credit Suisse, he built global transition management capabilities and advised on large-scale fund restructurings for institutional clients.
Ash holds a BSc in Mathematics and Economics from London School of Economics. He mentors through GAIN, Access Distributed, and The Grace Institute, advises LSE’s Tech Accelerator, and writes the "Weekend Reads" newsletter for investment professionals.
Max Michael, Principal
Max Michael is an investment operations executive with over 23 years of experience designing and managing middle- and back-office infrastructures for alternative asset managers. He specializes in building scalable, institutional-quality operating frameworks that support both emerging and established firms.
Throughout his career, Max has held senior leadership roles where he built operations from the ground up and guided firms through significant AUM growth. His expertise includes trading support, operations management, vendor oversight, data centralization, custom reporting, and financial controls. With a disciplined focus on process design and strategic partnerships, he ensures firms meet the highest standards of efficiency, transparency, and investor readiness.
At Lumen Partners, Max serves in the back office where he advises on growth strategies, outsourcing solutions, and operational best practices.