Gerard Derbesy. (Gallo)
Gerard passed away on Wednesday morning, said a statement from the oil and gas company.
"On behalf of the management and staff of BP Southern Africa, we extend our condolences to Gerard's wife and four children. He will be missed very much by everyone," said a BP spokesperson.
BP Southern Africa chief financial officer Priscillah Mabelane will serve as acting chief executive, said the company.
Gerard, worked for BP for 17 years in a number of roles in locations around the world, before taking up his role as head of BP SA in 2011.
Eyewitness News reported on Wednesday that Derbesy collapsed while playing tennis in Dainfern, Johannesburg.
ER24 spokesperson Vanessa Jackson said at the time that she could not confirm Derbesy's identity but confirmed that paramedics were called out to a tennis court in Dainfern on Wednesday.
"A man collapsed on a tennis court and paramedics conducted CPR after he lost his pulse," she said.
"He was rushed to hospital where they took over CPR but he passed away."
Career history
Derbesy was announced as chief executive on July 1 2011 and took over on September 1 2011.
He was BP's former head of planning performance, reporting for refining and marketing.
Derbesy graduated with a chemical engineering degree from the University of Marseilles and obtained a doctorate in chemistry from McGill University, Montreal, according to the company's website. – Additional reporting by Sapa