ABOUT CRUDEN READ

A Construction Insurance Firm, By Design

Jeremy Read
Managing Director
Leigh Cruden
Director

Cruden Read was founded in 2018 by Jeremy Read and Leigh Cruden, two specialists who had held senior positions within the construction practice of a major international insurance brokerage.

They saw an opportunity to build a firm focused entirely on the risks, contracts and insurance needs of the construction sector.

$40M+ in premiums placed annually
Australian + London insurance markets
100% focused on construction, engineering + mining
Backed by ASX 200 AUB Group
90+ years’ collective experience

Specialists, Not Generalists With a Construction Folder

We work exclusively across construction, engineering and mining. Every risk we see, every wording we write and every insurer relationship we hold is built around the sector, which means complexity is familiar territory.

That focus serves two groups: construction businesses that want their programme built around the contract and the project, and retail brokers that need senior construction expertise behind them without handing over the client relationship.

Why We Started Cruden Read

Jeremy Read and Leigh Cruden met inside the specialist construction practice of a major international brokerage. Between them, they had worked with some of the largest and most complex construction firms operating in Australia, across major infrastructure, commercial projects and specialist trades.

They understood that construction risk demands specialist attention. Multiple stakeholders, contractual obligations, indemnities and technical complexity can all change where risk sits and how an insurance programme needs to respond.

Cruden Read was established in 2018 to bring that specialist focus to every engagement. One sector, our own policy wordings, senior people involved throughout, and the same commitment regardless of the size of the account or the basis of the engagement.

Our Vision

A construction sector where insurance holds up on the day it is tested, because the risk, the contract and the wording were understood long before the claim was made.

Our Mission

To design and place construction insurance programmes built on our own wordings, matched to the contract and supported by specialists who understand the risk from placement through to claim.

Three Words We Hold Ourselves To

Collaborative

We work alongside clients, brokers, project partners and insurers rather than around them. Better information gives the market a clearer understanding of the risk.

Resourceful

If the answer is not obvious, we go and find it. Hard risks, tight timeframes and awkward contract clauses are the work, not an excuse.

Reliable

The same standard on every account, every time, whatever its size. You should never have to wonder whether your file is getting proper attention.

We'll find a way.

The Way We Operate

We ask to be involved before the market is approached.

Early engagement gives us time to understand your risk, review your contract and shape the placement strategy around you before the market sees it.

We read the contract first.

Retail brokers who bring us an account retain their client relationship while we provide specialist construction expertise behind the placement.

Brokers keep their clients.

Retail brokers who bring us an account retain the client relationship while we provide specialist construction expertise behind the placement.

We act for the client, not the insurer.

From placement and contract review to insurer presentations and complex claims, your account is supported by specialists who understand your construction risk.

You deal with experienced people throughout.

From placement and contract review to insurer presentations and complex claims, your account is supported by specialists who understand construction risk.

One Programme. Different Risks.

Cruden & Read Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative of Austbrokers Sydney, part of ASX 200 listed AUB Group.

That backing gives us the compliance framework, resources and market reach of a major insurance group while we continue to operate as a specialist construction firm, making decisions around the individual risk and how it is best placed.

Discuss Your Cover
Leigh Cruden
Director
Jeremy Read
Managing Director
Dean Kennedy
Account Manager
Crissie Greenham
Account Manager
Lisa Jarman
Account Manager
Lokesh Thondavada
Claims Advisory
Nick O’Hara
Account Executive

The People Who Answer

Our team combines specialist construction insurance experience with direct access to the people handling your account.

From the Clients and Brokers We Serve

“Insurance isn’t always easily understood, so we have a high reliance on Cruden Read to get things sorted on our behalf. They understand our business, they’re responsive, and we have confidence they’ll always work in our best interests.”
Peter TCFO
Lipman

Talk to the People Who Will Handle Your Account

When you work with Cruden Read, you have direct access to the specialists handling your account. Whether you are a contractor preparing for renewal, a developer planning a project or a broker looking for specialist construction capability, you deal with people who work with this risk every day.

Talk to a Specialist

Leigh Cruden

Director

Leigh has over 20 years of experience as an insurance broker including 15 years as a specialist in the construction and engineering space.

Prior to establishing Cruden Read, he was a senior member of the construction team at a large international broking house. He has provided insurance broking and advisory services to a number of different organisations in the construction industry and across all sectors and sub-sectors including contractors, developers, engineers, trade contractors and mining contractors

Leigh has also worked on a diverse range of project-specific insurance programs and has a proven track record in their design, placement and ongoing management through his strong understanding of contractual issues and compliance, market selection and technical claims capability.

Jeremy Read

Managing Director

Jeremy is a highly experienced insurance broker with over 35 years of industry experience including 25 years as a specialist in the construction and engineering space.

He has spent the majority of this time with large international broking houses and held the position of national construction manager at one of the largest construction broking firms in the world prior to establishing Cruden Read.

He has provided insurance broking and advisory services to some of the largest contractors in the world and worked on some of the largest and most complex infrastructure and development projects in Australasia.

Jeremy has a proven track record in the design and placement of construction insurances for a broad range of projects and has a strong understanding of the various contractual arrangements utilised on construction projects and the allocation of risk within the same.

Dean Kennedy

Account Manager

Dean started his career in Insurance broking across all lines and then made the move into wholesale broking and underwriting. He has over 15 years of industry experience with a particular focus on construction and “hard to place” Liability risks.

Prior to joining Cruden Read, he was a Lloyds of London Cover holder at an Underwriting Agency and he has also worked at suburban and large international broking houses in a variety of servicing and placement roles.

Dean has a proven track record in thinking “outside the box” and finding solutions for the insurance needs of a broad range of clients from specialty trades and SME businesses up to large corporate accounts and everything in between. His combined broking/underwriting experience has been instrumental in him finding ways to achieve superior results, including placement solutions on the more challenging risks, through appropriate carrier selection.

Crissie Greenham

Account Manager

Crissie has been a construction insurance broker since 2012. She has worked within the specialist construction teams of two of the largest international brokers operating within the Australian insurance market and has been directly involved in providing insurance broking and advisory services to one of the largest construction contractors in the country.

Crissie has provided insurance broking and advisory services on a broad range of construction projects and has worked with organisations that operate across the full spectrum of the construction industry.

Crissie is very much client focused and has a track record of achieving superior results.

Lisa Jarman

Account Manager

Lisa has over 25 years’ experience in the construction insurance industry working in both broking and underwriting in the private and public sectors.

She has worked in both the Australian and UK insurance markets and has worked in the specialist construction teams of 2 of the largest international brokers in the world.

Lisa has provided insurance broking and advisory services on a broad range of construction projects and has worked with organisations that operate across the spectrum of the construction industry.

She has also worked for the NSW Government (the largest public sector self-insurer in Australia) as Senior Construction Underwriter on NSW Capital works contracts.

Lisa has a proven track record of finding solutions for the insurance needs of a broad range of clients from SME businesses up to large international corporate accounts. Her combined broking/underwriting experience has been instrumental in helping her to achieve these results.

Lokesh Thondavada

Claims Advisory

Lokesh is a highly accomplished Senior Claims Leader with a Bachelor of Engineering background and over 20 years of hands-on experience managing complex, multi-million-dollar corporate claims in Australia and across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. He specializes in providing end-to-end management, strategic advocacy, and rapid resolution for complex construction incidents, asset damage, and third-party liabilities.

Lokesh has worked as a senior claims manager for international broking houses as well as major insurers in the Australian market. He has very deep and valuable experience in dealing with lawyers and loss adjusters as well as insurers and clients.

Lokesh’s primary focus is always on the client and ensuring that the best possible outcome is achieved on every claim.

Nick O’Hara

Account Executive

After completing a Bachelor of Commerce at Victoria University in 2021, Nick commenced his insurance career in Wellington with one of New Zealand’s leading international broking houses. After gaining experience across the corporate and commercial property sector, Nick relocated to Sydney to continue developing his career and joined Cruden Read.

Since joining Cruden Read, Nick has quickly developed a strong understanding of the complexities of construction and engineering insurance, with a focus on delivering practical and effective solutions for the brokers and clients he works with. He works closely with a broad range of insurers to structure tailored placements, with a focus on finding the right coverage, market and outcome for each risk.

Nick is known for being approachable, responsive and easy to deal with, while taking a practical approach to finding solutions for more complex or challenging risks.