Who Is Simone Ashley’s Rumored Boyfriend? All About Businessman Tim Sykes

Simone Ashley might have a new beau: Tim Sykes.

On Sept. 1, the Bridgerton star was seen on a romantic date with the businessman at the US Open, where they were spotted sharing a kiss. Ashley’s PDA-filled outing comes nearly six months after she announced her split from her ex-boyfriend, Constantin “Tino” Klein. In March 2025, Ashley told PEOPLE that she didn’t want to “waste away” her “single era.”

“I’m not in a rush,” she said. “It can be easy to jump into the next thing immediately, which is something that I am choosing not to do.”

That same month, Ashley was asked about her dating advice during an interview with A*Pop, where she encouraged those looking for love to “work on yourself” and “make sure you understand who it is you are.”

“That is most important, and then it sets you up to meet anyone,” the Sex Education actress said. “Be curious, be brave, because it’s horribly scary dating. If you meet the love of your life, then just go for it, I think. Don’t ask any questions, just go for it.”

She added, “I personally think it comes quality over quantity those moments, so you just got to cherish it and make the most of it.”

So, who is Simone Ashley’s rumored boyfriend? Here’s everything to know about Tim Sykes.

He went to school in Australia

Sykes attended The Scots College, an all-boys institution in Australia, where he received his higher school certificate, per his LinkedIn.

Then, from 2005 until 2008, he attended the University of Technology Sydney, where he studied business, marketing, accounting and international business.

Per his profile, he is now based in New York City.

He is a businessman

Around the time he graduated from the University of Technology Sydney, Sykes began working as an account executive at Medland Metropolis, where he remained for two years.

More recently, he became a managing partner of Wish You Were Here Group, a hospitality company that manages several popular Australian restaurants in N.Y.C., including Little Ruby’s Cafe and Dudleys. The group also has several California-based hot spots, including Belles Beach House and Élephante.

He and Ashley were first linked in September 2025

Ashley and Sykes became romantically linked in early September 2025, when they were spotted on a PDA-filled outing at the US Open. The pair were photographed kissing and holding hands throughout the tournament.

The actress appears to follow Sykes on Instagram; however, his profile is private.

The outing happened one month after Ashley sparked dating rumors with actor Joshua Jackson, after they were seen strolling through N.Y.C. together.

Ashley has opened up about what she is looking for in a partner

While discussing her “single era” with PEOPLE in March 2025, Ashley shared a little about what she wants in a partner.

“It’s about self-growth, and I am looking for someone who is so confident in themselves and is really ready to have an open heart in the same way I do,” the actress said. “And I think that’s hard to find.”

“I want to take my time to find the right person for me and to work on myself — to grow, and to focus on my work,” she continued. “I’ve got such an incredible year ahead, and I’m up to such exciting things. And I have the most amazing family and friends around me. So I’m working on my heart and on myself and on my confidence.”

During a March 2025 appearance on the Reign with Josh Smith podcast, Ashley also spoke on the societal pressure for women to want to get married, saying, “It’s just distracting you from what it is that you want.”

“It’s like all these noises, and it’s just like, ‘F— that,’ ” she said. “I’m on my journey, and if I want it, I’ll go and get it in my own time, and if I don’t want it, I am right where I want to be.”

Ashley called herself a “hopeless romantic”

During her March 2025 interview with A*Pop, Ashley described herself as a “big soppy romantic.”

“I’m quite a hopeless romantic, and I do believe in soulmates,” the Picture This star said.

Ashley later revealed that her “dating ick” is “bad manners” — and that her love language is “gift giving.”

“I love getting really creative depending on someone’s likes or interests or if they have passion or something coming up, then I really like tethering a gift or an experience to that,” she explained.